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.
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Curriculum for Wales Framework
Curriculum for Wales Framework explained
The Curriculum for Wales guidance forms part of the Curriculum for Wales Framework (Framework). The Framework is determined nationally and includes both the curriculum requirements set out in legislation, and a range of supporting guidance.
It consists of the following:
Introduction to the Curriculum for Wales guidance
Curriculum and assessment legislation requirements
Designing your curriculum: general guidance on developing a curriculum across all areas of learning and experience (Area/Areas)
Supporting learner progression: assessment guidance
Continuing the journey: expectations on the ongoing process of curriculum design, review and amendment
Introduction to each Area of learning and experience
Statements of what matters: the ‘big ideas’ and key principles in each Area
Principles of progression: how learners make progress throughout their learning across the curriculum
Descriptions of learning: how learners should make progress within each statement of what matters
Designing your curriculum: principles for each Area, more Area-specific guidance on developing a curriculum
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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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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
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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
Non-statutory guidance and supporting materials
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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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Cross-curricular skills frameworks for literacy and numeracy (LNF) and digital competence (DCF)Guidance and progression frameworks to support schools in developing these mandatory skills across all areas of learning and experience
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Curriculum for Wales supporting materialsOther non-statutory guidance and materials to support practitioners using the Curriculum for Wales including Routes for learning, personalised assessments, early childhood play, learning and care for ages 0 to 5 and curriculum and assessment arrangements for non-maintained nursery settings