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Official roll out of Welsh bac Official roll out of Welsh bac
(1 day later)
Education Minister Jane Davidson is expected to announce the roll out of the Welsh Baccalaureate qualification to schools across the country. Education Minister Jane Davidson has announced the Welsh Baccalaureate qualification will be rolled out to schools across the country.
The Advanced Bac - which is worth the equivalent of an A grade at A-level - has so far been offered only as a pilot qualification.The Advanced Bac - which is worth the equivalent of an A grade at A-level - has so far been offered only as a pilot qualification.
All schools and colleges will be able to participate from next September.All schools and colleges will be able to participate from next September.
The baccalaureate's aim is to offer a broader qualification than the traditional A-level.The baccalaureate's aim is to offer a broader qualification than the traditional A-level.
Community work We are leading the way to a new style of learning Education Minister, Jane Davidson
To gain the bac, pupils still need a minimum of two A-levels at grade E and above, but they must also pass the bac core with modules in subjects including modern languages and politics. To gain the qualification, pupils still need a minimum of two A-levels at grade E and above, but they must also pass the bac core with modules in subjects including modern languages and politics.
The qualification aims to broaden post-16 education, and give credits for activities such as community work and work experience, but also for proving they were capable in key skills such as maths, ICT, languages and communications. It aims to broaden post-16 education, and give credits for activities such as community work and work experience, but also for proving they were capable in key skills such as maths, ICT, languages and communications.
Announcing the decision, Ms Davidson said: "Today is an historic day for education in Wales.
"We are leading the way to a new style of learning, and I believe one that will be the envy, if it's not already the envy, of learning cultures throughout the UK."
She said there had been a "clear message" from pilot centres, UCAS, internal and independent external evaluation that the Welsh bas was "fit for purpose".
'Half-way house'
Ms Davidson said additional funding was already in place to ensure "adequate resources and support structures".
Professor David Reynolds from Plymouth University said the version being rolled out was a "half-way house" between A-levels and the full international baccalaureate.
He explained that a full international baccalaureate would require 35 or 40 hours formal teaching per pupil, per week.
"It's very difficult to actually resource that increase in teaching hours and I think this half-way house may very well be the way forward," he added.
But teaching union NASUWT said it had "serious concerns" about increased workloads for teachers and inadequate funding, and said the roll-out should be delayed.
'Dropped out'
There has also been political reaction to the bac with Plaid Cymru called for "major changes" to be made before it was rolled-out, claiming too many questions had arisen from the pilot programme.
The Welsh Conservatives said clarification was needed on whether it would be optional to schools, and said it had "yet to gain widespread recognition among universities and employers".
A total of 31 schools and colleges across Wales are currently involved in the pilot.A total of 31 schools and colleges across Wales are currently involved in the pilot.
Around 700 pupils began the advanced bac pilot in 2003 but 400 had dropped out by exam time in 2005.Around 700 pupils began the advanced bac pilot in 2003 but 400 had dropped out by exam time in 2005.
Project director Keith Davies, from the Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC), conceded that the rigours of the course might have come as a surprise for some students but insisted it still had a future.Project director Keith Davies, from the Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC), conceded that the rigours of the course might have come as a surprise for some students but insisted it still had a future.
Opinion is now broadly split, with many saying the bac has given students new skills and confidence but some teachers have questioned the wisdom of asking students to spend up to five hours a week on the fledgling qualification.