Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification

A compulsory course of study, The Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification (WBQ) is pursued at Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced levels across Key Stages 4 and 5. A new and innovative qualification inspired by the needs of employers, students are recognised for pursuing a wide range of academic and extra curricular or Core activities.

ACADEMIC STUDIES

Advanced WBQ : students must achieve a minimum of 2 A levels at E grade or above

Intermediate WBQ : students must achieve a minimum of 4 GCSEs at A* - C grade or equivalent

Foundation WBQ : students must achieve a minimum of 4 GCSEs at D – G grade or equivalent

CORE ACTIVITIES

At all levels, students study a range of topics introducing them to the politics and economic culture of our country, social issues facing the community in which they live and encouraging the students to have an awareness of the heritage and culture of Wales.

Students work towards six Key Skills which enable them to extend their communication skills, develop their practical numerical skills and build on existing ICT skills. As we encourage students to develop a range of personal skills, they take part in team working and problem solving exercises (Teamworking & Problem Solving) and learn how to plan, manage and review their own learning and development; key factors for a successful and fulfilling academic and vocational career.

Alongside these programmes of study, students participate in an Enterprise Activity, Work Experience and a Community Participation project. From these experiences, students often demonstrate skills and abilities that may have been hidden in the classroom; and take part in activities that they may not have previously tried which not only can open up a range of opportunities they may not have thought of but increases their self-confidence and self esteem as they begin to realise their potential.

To cap it all, students participate in a 20 hour language module which for our Advanced students currently takes place in Southern Normandy, France. Students spend a week not only learning basic vocabulary but practising what they have learned in the local French community, and in addition to this the trip includes an outdoor adventure element where students (and staff) can try their hand at a range of activities from archery to abseiling and canoeing to climbing.

Welsh Baccalaureate trip to Normandy

Success comes as much from attitude as it does from hard work and good luck and with the WBQ we give the students the tools to develop their skills and abilities, to broaden their outlook and take responsibility for their success.

Working with us they can achieve as much as they want to leading the way to a fulfilling and worthwhile future.