National Qualifications timeline
Read up on all the research, consultations and decisions relating to the National Qualifications in our timeline of project delivery.
Foundation qualifications
From September 2027, new Foundation qualifications will be available to 14 to 16-year-olds in Wales in a range of general and work-related subjects.
New Foundation qualifications are being introduced as part of widespread reforms to qualifications available to 14 to 16-year-olds in Wales. They will form part of the new National 14–16 Qualifications suite, increasing choice and flexibility for learners.
Foundation qualifications are for learners who may not feel ready for GCSE and/or VCSE study and they will span Entry Level and Level 1 (with the exception of the Cymraeg qualifications).
These qualifications will be delivered by one or more of the following awarding bodies, subject to specification approval:
What subjects will be available as Foundation qualifications?
The suite includes nine general subjects linking in with the areas of learning and experience that make up the Curriculum for Wales, as well as 15 work-related subjects.
Learners may take a mix of general and work-related Foundation qualifications, and may also take these qualifications alongside GCSEs, VCSEs and the Skills Suite.
| General subjects | |
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| Work-related subjects | |
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Teachers and school leaders can find a list of the vocational and skills qualifications that will no longer be available from September 2027 in our letter to centres.
What are the key benefits of Foundation qualifications?
As well as providing learners with a solid background in a range of general and work-related subjects, Foundation qualifications will:
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- be available in Cymraeg and English
- meet the aims and purposes of the Curriculum for Wales
- promote positive learning experiences
- reflect the diversity of learners and the world they live in
- support positive mental health and wellbeing
- offer a range of assessment types
- enable learners to progress to post-16 training or learning and, where appropriate, GCSEs and VCSEs
- be deliverable within the reasonable resources available to schools (but won’t be limited to delivery in schools)
- have a consistent grading system
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Foundation qualifications grading structure
The grading structure for Foundation qualifications will be:
| Entry Level | Level 1 |
| Entry Level 1 Pass | Level 1 Pass |
| Entry Level 2 Pass | |
| Entry Level 3 Pass |
The exception to this will be the grading for Foundation Cymraeg and Foundation Core Cymraeg, which will be available at Entry Level but not Level 1.
Progression routes from Foundation study
Foundation qualifications will have recognition in their own right, and some learners may choose to study subjects at Foundation alongside their GCSEs and/or VCSEs at Level 1 and Level 2.
Others, who may not feel ready to study GCSEs and/or VCSEs, may choose to initially study Foundation qualifications and progress onto post-16 training or learning.
Timeline of project delivery
Foundation qualifications will be taught in schools for the first time from September 2027. There are a number of milestones to keep an eye out for as part of the development of these new qualifications.
2024
We published the approval criteria (the conditions an awarding body needs to meet for us to approval their qualifications) for the Foundation qualifications.
Read the general Foundation qualifications approval criteria
Read the work-related Foundation qualifications approval criteria
2025-2026
Awarding bodies will develop the Foundation qualifications for us to approve.
2026
Awarding bodies will publish the specifications for their approved Foundation qualifications, one year before first teaching in schools.