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Wales’s newly reformed GCSEs will have to be changed again and may go altogether under plans for the new curriculum.

Curriculum changes moved a step closer on Monday as a Welsh Government consultation was launched on the changes.

Education Minister Kirsty Williams unveiled a White Paper asking for views.

The Welsh Government is asking head teachers and others their views on the new curriculum before details are published in draft in April.

The National Association of Head Teachers Cymru responded saying “the challenge is simply enormous” and warned the Welsh Government must listen to the profession for the reforms to succeed.

Earlier this month the Welsh Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Education in Wales warned pupils will not be taught “enough of what really matters” in the new curriculum and the NASUWT said its members had “lost faith” in the process of developing what will be the biggest change to education in Wales for decades.

(Image: South Wales Echo)

Without publishing detail of what will be in the curriculum, the Welsh Government is now asking head teachers and others whether they agree with the broad principle of the reforms.

The details announced so far include steps such as making age appropriate relationship and sexuality education compulsory up to age 16.

Under the changes coming in from 2022 traditional subject areas will go and be replaced with five “areas of learning and experience” (AoLEs).

This could ultimately mean an end to GCSEs in the longer term and more reforms in the short term, Qualifications Wales associate director Emyr George said.

Last summer 15 WJEC GCSEs reformed for Wales were examined for the first time, including the three sciences.

That followed six new WJEC GCSEs, examined for the first time in 2017, including English language, English literature, maths, mathematics numeracy, Welsh language and Welsh literature. All maintained schools in Wales, and some independent schools, use the WJEC exam board.

But schools will now have to prepare for more changes to the exams, which may, ultimately no longer be known as GCSEs, said exam regulator Qualifications Wales.

Emyr George said parents will be asked what they want their children to leave school knowing as part of plans for the changes.

And unveiling the White paper laying the legal foundations for the new curriculum today (MON JAN 28) Education Minister Kirsty Williams said: “We have to think about assessment for learning. Our qualifications will need to be clearly aligned with what learners learn in the new curriculum.”

Mr George said Qualifications Wales is already planning for this change: “We are thinking about what does this mean for the qualifications taken by 16 year-olds in Wales, including GCSEs.

“We may still have GCSes but they may look quite different. We are not taking any decisions before an extensive process of engagement.

“It’s possible we could still have GCSEs in five to 10 years time but the branding and design would need to be relevant to the AoLEs.

“GCSEs will have to change again and we are just starting to look at the changes needed to GCSEs and other qualifications for the cohort that will be sitting these courses in 2025, those who will be in year 10 in 2025 and are in about year three now.

“We are planning what qualifications should be available for that cohort. We are planning the how and what to some extent.”

He said the regulator is now putting together a programme of engagement with parents, students, teachers and others for this summer term once the draft curriculum is out.

“We are planning a more extensive engagement with students and teachers and primary school parents of children in years two and three now in order to advise the Welsh Government on policy,” he said.

“We don’t know how much, or to what extent, qualifications will change. We are talking about qualifications by 2025 but they need to be available and clear before that.”

Wales’ new curriculum is being rolled out from 2022 with full implementation across all years by 2026.

Responding to the consultation on curriculum changes Rob Williams, director of the National Association of Head Teachers Cymru, said: “When schools have first access to the draft “areas of learning and experience” in April 2019, there needs to be full engagement across the system.

“Everyone needs to understand that further changes and updates will almost certainly be required within each AoLE and a great deal of work will be essential in ensuring all schools are equipped with the training and resources, including core school funding, to implement such ambitious reform.

“Welsh Government will need to be in open listening mode and professional feedback from schools will be critical if implementation is to be successful. In combination with the current Additional Learning Needs reform, the challenge at school-level is simply enormous and neither can be achieved by cutting any corners.”

Welsh Local Government Association leader and Newport councillor Debbie Wilcox said: “It is important that the views of those responsible for managing and delivering education in local authorities and, in particular, schools, is taken into account to ensure that the new curriculum is one that delivers for the next generation of Welsh learners.”

But Terry Mackie, former head of school improvement for Newport, said he fears the changes are too much for Wales’ “overburdened and under funded” schools.

“Today’s White Paper sets out “transformation” that is far too big and complex to handle for any school system, especially for one like Wales which is simply overburdened and underfunded,” he said.

“The OECD (which runs international Pisa tests taken by teenagers in Wales) warned last October our reform approach is high-risk”.

Dr Philip Dixon, chief executive of the Assessment Foundation, said: “For now we are being asked for views on the broad approach we should adopt to curriculum reform and implementation.

“Some proposals will command almost universal consent - the use of assessment as first and foremost a tool for learning is obviously one. Others may be more contentious. In April we should be able to see some flesh on the bones when the draft new curriculum itself is published.”