Information on updates to Curriculum for Wales guidance
From April 2026, updates have been made to the designing the 14 to 16 curriculum offer section of the
14-16 Learning guidance as part of the ongoing review of the Curriculum for Wales framework guidance.
The updated guidance:
signposts schools to consider opportunities available through the Seren Academy to support learner reflection, progress and post 16 planning
reflects the availability of VCSEs, the Skills Suite, the Personal Project and Foundation qualifications (alongside GCSEs) from 2027
reflects the revised Made for Wales Science GCSEs, including expectations around breadth of learning, access and the continued availability of separate science GCSEs
clarifies expectations around self-evaluation and improvement, including signposting to the Youth Engagement Progression Framework
confirms new reporting arrangements in relation to the 14 to 16 Learner Entitlement Indicators Framework (LEIF), with further information explaining how the LEIF aligns with wider evaluation and improvement arrangements
These updates aim to support clarity and coherence for schools as they design and evaluate their 14 to 16 curriculum offer.
Search for Curriculum for Wales resources on Hwb
Overarching guidance
The Curriculum for Wales Framework sets out the curriculum requirements in legislation for all learners aged 3 to 16, guidelines for schools and settings in developing their curricula as well as the expectations around assessment arrangements to support learner progression
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Introduction to Curriculum for Wales guidanceIntroduces the four purposes, what's new, why it's changing and who the curriculum guidance is for
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Summary of legislationExplains the legal status of the curriculum guidance, the proposed legal duties on schools and what these mean in practice
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Designing your curriculumGeneral guidance for designing your curriculum across all areas of learning and experience
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Assessment arrangementsGuidance and information for designing assessment arrangements within a school curriculum
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Continuing the journeyGuidance to support schools with a common set of expectations, priorities and supporting information for curriculum design
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14 to 16 learning guidanceForms part of the Curriculum for Wales Framework statutory guidance
Areas of learning and experience and other guidance
The other guidance includes the non-statutory cross-curricular frameworks, the Routes for learning guidance, guidance on the reading assessments as well as the 0 to 3 learning guidance
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Areas of learning and experienceGuidance to help schools and settings develop their own curriculum, enabling learners to develop towards the four purposes.
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Curriculum for Wales supporting materialsLiteracy and Numeracy Framework; Digital Competence Framework; Routes for learning; Support for the reading and numeracy assessments; Support for children aged 0 to 5 years including materials related to funded non-maintained settings and early childhood play, learning and care