**A-level Students Raise Concerns Over Welsh Baccalaureate, Call for Optional Approach**
A growing number of post-16 students in Wales are voicing their frustrations with the compulsory nature of the post-16 Advanced Skills Welsh Baccalaureate, warning that it is negatively impacting their studies in other subjects. Students at Coleg Sir Gar in Carmarthenshire have described elements of the qualification as “pointless” and argue that the current system puts additional pressure on young people during a crucial stage of their education.
Ioan Armstrong and Sam Bartlett, both studying A levels at Coleg Sir Gar, have initiated a campaign seeking policy change. Both acknowledge that whilst the Welsh Baccalaureate, commonly referred to as the “Welsh Bacc”, offers some practical skills, it is not universally beneficial and should be made fully optional—without schools and colleges suffering financial consequences for allowing students to opt out.
The students have escalated their concerns through multiple avenues, including sending a formal letter to Education Minister Lynne Neagle, raising the issue with their college, and generating a petition signed by 137 of their peers. In an effort to shed light on the funding arrangements, they also submitted Freedom of Information requests, revealing that Coleg Sir Gar receives in excess of £360,000 annually to deliver the Welsh Bacc programme.
The funding provided by the Welsh Government for the course, they argue, effectively makes participation compulsory in most institutions. The duo noted that this sum is approximately equivalent to the salaries of seven academic staff members, a financial incentive that, in their view, explains the reluctance of schools and colleges to make the course optional. Students say their criticism is not aimed at educational institutions themselves, but at a system that indirectly compels participation through financial pressure.
Ioan, aged 17, is currently taking A levels in politics, psychology, and sociology, as well as the Welsh Bacc—albeit reluctantly. He pointed out that the qualification, although officially assigned UCAS points equivalent to an A level, is not universally accepted by selective university courses such as medicine. This, he claims, restricts students’ trajectories, especially for those who would benefit from focusing more intensively on their core subjects.
The Welsh Government’s official stance is that the Welsh Bacc is not compulsory. However, Ioan and Sam argue that in reality students have little choice, due to the funding arrangement. They are campaigning for a revised policy in which colleges would not lose valuable funding if they allowed students to opt out of the course.
Sam, 16, who is pursuing A levels in law, sociology, and politics, and aspires to join the civil service rather than attend university, told reporters that the Welsh Bacc may help some students but is redundant for others. He said the course content, while intended to foster useful skills such as planning and organisation, is not academically demanding and consumes time that could otherwise be devoted to more relevant academic study.
Both students also shared that elements of the programme are repeated across other subjects, whilst some activities, like personality tests, felt irrelevant to their future aspirations. Sam noted that in his experience, students frequently complete Welsh Bacc assignments at the last minute, contributing to the perception that it is not a challenging or meaningful academic pursuit.
Responding to the students’ concerns, the Welsh Government confirmed that a review of guidance for the provision of the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate is underway, and emphasised that while schools and colleges can set their own curriculum policies, students should always be offered opportunities that best suit their needs. Officials underlined that a public consultation will likely be held before further changes, inviting ongoing input from learners across Wales.
The Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales, which superseded the previous Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate in September 2023, was introduced to foster practical skills, personal development, and social awareness. It is usually taken alongside A levels and carries UCAS points, intending to support progression to university, vocational training, or employment. The qualification integrates a Skills Challenge Certificate covering individual projects and community engagement, with stringent requirements for English or Welsh language, and mathematics.
As the Welsh Government prepares to refresh its guidance on the curriculum for 16 to 19-year-olds, the discussion around the Welsh Bacc’s value and its future in post-16 education is likely to intensify. Students, educators, and policymakers alike will be watching closely to see whether the calls for an optional approach lead to substantive policy change—or if the qualification remains a fixture in Wales’ educational landscape.