Commenting on reports that up to two thirds of independent schools in Wales are set to reject the Welsh Government’s new Wales-only GCSEs in favour of English qualifications, because they “lack credibility and portability”, Angela Burns AM, Shadow Minister for Education, said:
“We believe that what is important to young people is that they can take internationally-recognised qualifications to help them compete in the global race.
“This is concerning evidence from independent schools in Wales suggesting that teachers and parents don’t believe that the Welsh Labour Government’s new qualifications are sufficiently robust and may not be recognised around the world.
“The fact that some state schools are also considering entering students for English GCSEs displays a lack of confidence among teachers, parents and governors, not helped by the recent fiasco over the new English Language GCSE.
“Qualifications are needed to open doors for young people, to give them access to the best universities and maximise their career opportunities either in an outward-looking Wales, elsewhere in the UK or overseas.
“We consistently argued that new Wales-only GCSEs represented separatism for separatism’s sake and that an insular isolationist agenda would not be in the best interests of students.
“Welsh Labour Ministers must act to secure confidence in these new qualifications and reassure teachers, students and parents that the new Wales-only GCSEs will be their passport to a successful career.”
