The Welsh educational system is overseen by the Education Minister in the Senedd. All schools must follow the National Curriculum which is inspected by Estyn. Education is divided into early years (ages 0-4), primary (ages 5-11), secondary (ages 11-16), and post-16 education. Students are assessed throughout their education via teacher assessments and national standardized tests. After secondary education, students may pursue higher education, apprenticeships, or vocational qualifications.

1. Welsh Educational System

2. Y Senedd: Cardiff Bay
Education in Wales is a devolved issue. The Education Minister in the Senedd has
responsibility for both curricular and administrative matters. The British
Parliament supplies a ring fenced budget for compulsory age (5-16) education

3. ESTYN represent Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Schools in Wales
All childcare settings are subject to inspections. The format and focus of
inspections are reviewed regularly. Currently settings in Wales receive one
month’s notice.

4. Early Years 0-3
non compulsory education
 private childcare organisations
 voluntary sector nursery groups
 mother and toddler groups

5. Nursery Education 3-4 years old
non compulsory
 5 sessions per week provided by the state
 private settings
 voluntary settings
 state settings

6. Nursery Education 4-5 years old
non compulsory
 state schools: reception year
 private settings
 voluntary third sector settings

7. Private Education
Private Educational establishments who are
not required to follow the National
Curriculum Statutory Orders take fee paying
pupils and pupils who are on scholarships
from age 5.
They can be day pupils or from the age of 7
boarders. Some schools will take a
combination of pupils others have
boarder/day pupil only policies

8. State Education System
The State supports a number of different
types of schools all of whom are required to
follow elements of the National Curriculum.
All schools can be mixed or single sex and
some are through the medium of Welsh only
bilingual or English only.
 Infant
 Primary
 Middle Schools
 Grammar
 Secondary Modern
 Comprehensive
 Faith Schools
 Academies: these reasonably new
establishments are funded by a
combination of state and private sponsors
and are not required to follow the
National Curriculum.

9. National Curriculum
 All schools are expected to follow National Curriculum guidelines
 Estyn (the schools inspectorate) ensure Curriculum is followed and teaching
and learning is to the highest standards.
 12 subjects to be taught including Welsh, English, Maths, Science, IT, Religious
Education, History, Geography, Physical Education, Music, Art
 and MFL (from 11years old)
 Plus a holistic cross curricular approach to Literacy, Numeracy , Personal and
Social Education and Economic Development Sustainability and Global
Citizenship

10. Primary Education 5-11 years old
 Foundation Phase (5-7 years old)
 Reception (non-compulsory)
 Year 1
 Year 2
 Key Stage 2 (7-11 years old)
 Year 3-6

11. Assessment in Primary Education
 initial non compulsory baseline assessment on entry
 teacher assessment
 annual report to parents
 teacher assessed ‘Outcomes’ reported at end of Year 2
(age rising 7) and ‘Levels’ reported at end of Year 6 (age
rising 11)
 Compulsory Standardised annual National Testing every
May Year 1-6

12. Secondary Education (11-16 years old)
 Key Stage 3
 Year 7-9
 Key Stage 4
 Year 10 and 11

13. Assessment in Secondary Education
 Bridging work with primary schools provides baseline assessment
 Teacher assessed Year 6 ‘levels’ provides baseline data
 National Testing provides raw data
 Teacher assessment throughout Secondary school
 Annual reports to parents
 Teacher assessed ‘Levels’ reported at end of Year 9 (rising 14 years
old)
 Compulsory Standardised annual National Testing every May Year 7-9
 General Certificate of Education exams at end of year 11 (rising 16
years old)

14. Post 16 Education (non compulsory)
 6th Form
 Year 12 and 13
Some pupils gain apprenticeships: working while
studying
 Tertiary College
 Study groups dependant on
course studied
 Practical and academic
subjects on offer

15. Higher Education
 Some people study a Higher National Diploma which lasts
2 years
 Some people are offered National Vocational
Qualifications in the work place
 University Degree Level Education usually last three years
 Many people now study Masters courses after completing
their initial degrees
 Most higher education is administered by the Universities.
 There is a cost attached to all higher education studies