Curriculum for Wales Framework
Curriculum for Wales Framework contents and updates 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
Any updates made to the Curriculum for Wales Framework will be shown on the individual pages. 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.
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Introduction to Curriculum for Wales guidanceSets out the purposes and principles of curriculum design in the Curriculum for Wales
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Designing your curriculumKey principles, processes and practical considerations that for curriculum design, learning and teaching
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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 on curriculum design expectations for each Area, including purpose, structure, principles of progression and descriptions of learning
Non-statutory guidance and supporting materials
Search for Curriculum for Wales resources on Hwb
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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