Qualifications Wales publishes Annual Report 2021-22

The 2021-22 academic year was one of continuing challenges for the education system, due to the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Qualifications Wales, the independent regulator for non-degree level qualifications offered by awarding bodies recognised in Wales, has published its annual report. 

The reporting period of the academic year 2021-2022 was one of continuing challenges for the education system, due to the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact both on the stability of the system and on learners’ ability to engage with learning.  

The annual report highlights some of Qualifications Wales’ work during this time including how it has: 

• monitored and oversaw the secure delivery of the first exam series for three years
• prepared for its largest ever consultation, to reform GCSEs in Wales
• began work to identify what other qualifications should be available as part of a coherent, inclusive offer for those aged 14-16 to support the Curriculum for Wales
• continued to monitor new Made-for-Wales vocational qualifications in Health and Social Care, and Construction and the Built Environment
• produced new resources to support awarding bodies to improve the availability of Welsh-medium qualifications
• commissioned a new Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales qualification which will begin to be taught from 2023

Qualifications Wales’ Chair, David Jones OBE DL, said: 

“This report outlines our work over the past academic year, during which our education system continued to be disrupted by COVID-19. In bringing forward this report, I would like to congratulate all the learners who have succeeded despite all of these challenges, and thank all our partners for their collaboration and flexibility in enabling us to return to more normal assessment arrangements.” 

Qualifications Wales’ Chief Executive, Philip Blaker, said:

“2021-22 was an exceptional and challenging year, with the pandemic impacting learners’ ability to engage with their learning. The effects of COVID-19 will continue to be felt for some time and we remain mindful of this in our work, balancing the here-and-now with the long-term interests of learners. While the phased return to pre-pandemic assessment arrangements has been a focus, we also continued our work to review and reform qualifications. Significant progress was made co-creating a new range of qualifications for 14-16-year-olds. Working closely with a wide range of stakeholders, including teachers and subject experts, enabled us to design proposals that match the ambition of the Curriculum for Wales, and we are currently consulting on these proposals.”