The Welsh Baccalaureate
The Baccalaureate is compulsory for all members of Year 12. Students will study the Baccalaureate at an intermediate level or advanced level dependent on their options and ability.
What is the Welsh Baccalaureate?
There are a number of elements encompassed within the Intermediate Baccalaureate:
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The subjects you will study (GCSE / BTEC / AS)
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Key Skills
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Work Related Education
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Community Participation
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Individual Investigation
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Personal and Social Education
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Wales, Europe and the World
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Mentoring and Tutorials
The subjects
You must first choose the subjects you wish to study based on the school’s option columns. It is possible to study a combination of BTEC, GCSE or AS Level courses. To study the Advanced Baccalaureate the student must also study a minimum of two subjects equivalent to two A levels.
Essential Key Skills
Students will work towards key skills qualifications at levels 2 and 3. They must complete the three essential key skills, Communication, Information Technology and Application of Number as well as the three wider key skills.
Work Related Education
In order to complete the course, the student must have evidence in the form of a diary of 30 hours of working with an employer. This can take the form of a week of work experience yn Year 12 or part-time work during the year.
Community Participation
During the course students need to complete 30 hours of community work e.g. giving assistance in the reading scheme in a primary school, visiting a local hospital or helping out at a local sports club.
Individual Investigation
Students will undertake an Individual Investigation arising from an aspect of the Core that particularly interests them. This means that the investigation can arise from any part of Wales, Europe and the World (WEW), Personal and Social Education (PSE) or Work-related Education (WRE). Carrying out the investigation will help develop the skills of collecting information, analysing that information and presenting it in an attractive way. Students can present the conclusion of their investigation in a written or oral presentation.
Personal and Social Education
There are five elements in this component. The first four are:
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Positive Relationships
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Good Health, including sexual health
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The rights and responsibilities of being an active citizen
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Understanding development issues and education for sustainable development
There are three key issues in each element and students must address one of these three. This means that teachers and students have some choice within the elements so a programme can be tailored to meet the student's needs and avoid repeating issues covered previously.
Students will be required to engage in an activity in the local community for at least 30 hours, this is the fifth element in PSE.
Wales, Europe and the World
Students need to show an awareness of issues affecting Wales, Europe and the World. Studying a language module is part of this aspect. There will be an opportunity for students to participate in one of the following:
Mentoring and Tutorials
Students will attend regular mentoring sessions with their personal tutor in order to discuss their progress and issues pertaining to the Baccalaureate.