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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The Curriculum for Wales Framework
The Curriculum for Wales Framework explained
The Curriculum for Wales Framework is determined nationally and includes the curriculum requirements set out in legislation, and statutory guidance.
The Curriculum for Wales statutory guidance includes:
Introduction to the Curriculum for Wales guidance
guidance for designing your curriculum
guidance in assessment arrangements
Continuing the journey: guidance on how schools should plan and organise their approaches to realising the expectations of the curriculum
guidance for each area of learning and experience
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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 other 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