Assembly Communications –
Outreach
Summary of the Curriculum,
Assessment and Qualifications
Questionnaire
Background
The National Assembly for Wales’
Communications team works with the Assembly’s committees to
engage the people of Wales in Assembly business. We do this by
creating direct links between the issues people care about and the
work of committees, and providing tailored opportunities for them
to have their say.
This document provides a summary of responses
received to the Curriculum, Assessment and Qualifications
questionnaire conducted by the Outreach team.
Although not specifically designed to inform
the Enterprise and Business Committee Inquiry into Assisting Young
People into Work, some elements of the questionnaire and subsequent
findings may be relevant to the inquiry’s terms of
reference.
Methodology
As part of the Children, Young People and
Education Committee’s scoping exercise into the Curriculum,
Assessment and Qualifications the Outreach Team conducted a survey
in paper-based format. Participants were asked a range of questions
relating to the importance of literacy skills, the skills and
subjects young people should be taught at school, their opinion of
the Welsh Baccalaureate and whether the qualifications they can
currently obtain are suitable for gaining employment.
The survey was created with the aim of
targeting children and young people between 14-19 years of age.
Awareness Raising
The questionnaire was promoted by Assembly
staff with relevant groups visiting the Senedd, receiving education
visits, and during the Assembly’s presence at summer
events.
Key Statistics
1177 Total number of
survey responses received
Geographical Summary of
Responses
Home postcode of survey respondents
Total number of
responses: 754
Summary of Responses
Question 1: Do you think that reading and
writing skills are more important than any other skills you gain at
school? Why?
Total number of
responses: 1,175
-
Yes: 71.91% (845)
-
No : 18.80% (221)
-
Don’t know: 9.27%
(109)
Comments
-
742 (84.5%) of the young people stated that reading and writing
skills are the foundation for all other skills and dictate your
future success (whether in work or in academia);
-
58 (6.6%) of respondents argued that all of the skills acquired
through their education are equally important skills to reading and
writing;
-
57 (6.5%) of the young people felt that other skills (e.g.
financial literacy, communication and I.T) are more important in
this digital age than traditional literacy skills;
-
8 (0.91%) of respondents stated that literacy skills allow people
to communicate effectively with each other in society;
-
7 (0.79%) of the young people argued that literacy skills are only
important in so far as they’re relevant to your chosen career
path;
-
3 (0.34%) of respondents felt that many jobs in this digital age do
not require literacy skills;
-
2 (0.22%) of the young people stated that these basic literacy
skills are often taken for granted; and
-
1 (0.11%) of the respondents argued that the state cannot rely on
parents to teach their children these basic literacy skills.
Question 4 – In your opinion, the
Welsh Baccalaureate is/was:
Total number of
responses: 1,108
-
One of the most useful courses: 10.28% (114)
-
More useful than most courses: 13.98% (155)
-
More useful than some courses: 35.55% (394)
-
Not as useful as other courses: 40.16% (445)
Comments
-
289 young people stated that the Welsh Baccalaureate helped teach
them a variety of core skills (e.g group work and team building,
communications and public speaking);
-
44 respondents argued that the Welsh Baccalaureate isn’t
useful because it isn’t accepted by all Universities
(particularly those outside of Wales);
-
214 young people felt that the Welsh Baccalaureate is irrelevant in
its worth as a qualification and not useful;
-
9 respondents stated that the Welsh Baccalaureate as a
qualification is/was too easy to justify an A-level
award;
-
148 young people felt that the Welsh Baccalaureate is useful in
terms of its value in UCAS points when making applications to
University, and awards a pupil with a recognised
University/College qualification;
-
45 respondents argued that working towards the Welsh Baccalaureate
qualification is/was too time consuming;
-
13 young people stated that the Welsh Baccalaureate only helps
pupils who wish to go on and study in Higher or Further
Education;
-
7 respondents felt that the Welsh Baccalaureate allowed them to
learn more about Wales, Welsh culture and it’s politics;
-
65 young people argued that the other subjects they study/studied
were more important than the Welsh Baccalaureate;
-
14 respondents felt that the Welsh Baccalaureate’s value
hinged on what field/subject a young person wanted to go on and
study;
-
4 young people stated that many of the skills they learn whilst
studying the Welsh Baccalaureate were ones they had already
developed through other subjects;
-
22 respondents argued that the Welsh Baccalaureate could be taught
better;
-
7 young people felt that the Welsh Baccalaureate should be an
optional subject choice;
-
12 respondents stated that the Welsh Baccalaureate taught them the
skills employers look for when sifting job applications.
Question 5 - Should the Welsh Baccalaureate
be used as one of the main ways to give young people the right
skills to find the job they want, or get into the college or
university they want?
Total number of
responses: 1,137
-
Yes: 45.91% (522)
-
No : 24.45% (278)
-
Don’t know: 26.63%
(337)
Comments
-
111 young people agreed with the question, on the basis that the
Welsh Baccalaureate covers a variety of important skills pupils
need to succeed;
-
54 respondents felt that as the Welsh Baccalaureate is a recognised
qualification, it should be used as a way of giving young people
the skills they want to work or to University/College;
-
45 young people argued against the question, on the basis that the
Welsh Baccalaureate is not a useful subject to study;
-
48 respondents agreed that other subjects are equally/ more
important for giving you the skills you need to enter the workforce
or go to University/College;
-
30 young people felt that the Welsh Baccalaureate is/was a useful
subject to study;
-
25 respondents argued that the Welsh Baccalaureate helps students
to make decisions about their future;
-
19 young people stated that the Welsh Baccalaureate is an easy
course and qualification for pupils to attain these necessary
skills;
-
15 respondents felt that the Welsh Baccalaureate could be improved
to provide students with more practical experience of the skills
needed to work and/or go to College/University;
-
14 young people argued that the Welsh Baccalaureate can help you
only in so far as your desire to continue studying and/or working
in Wales;
-
10 respondents stated that the Welsh Baccalaureate should be an
optional subject to study;
-
4 young people felt that an International Baccalaureate would be
more useful in this context;
-
3 respondents argued against the question, on the basis that the
qualification isn’t recognised by every employer, College and
University in the UK.
Question 6 – Did your schools and/or
your careers advisor tell you about the different vocational
qualifications, like NVQs, that you can study?
Total number of
responses: 1,128
-
Yes: 28.63% (323)
-
No : 48.04% (542)
-
Don’t know: 23.31%
(263)
Question 7 – How much do you agree or
disagree with the following statement:
“What is currently
being taught in school or college adequately prepares me, or has
adequately prepared me, for later life and finding a job”
Total number of
responses: 1,120
-
Strongly Agree: 6.16%
(69)
-
Agree: 29.46% (330)
-
Neutral: 39.46% (442)
-
Disagree: 18.66%
(209)
-
Strongly disagree: 6.25%
(70)
Comments
-
9 young people argued that at present, they are only being taught
how to pass exams, as opposed to preparation for later life and
finding suitable work;
-
15 respondents felt that more could be done to improve what is
currently being taught at school or college to help prepare them in
their future endeavours;
-
331 young people stated that they feel adequately prepared for
later life and finding a job. These reasons included acquiring the
necessary skills employers look for in potential candidates, and
the requisite qualifications to go to Further or Higher
Education;
-
406 respondents argued that they did not feel adequately prepared
for their later life and finding a job. Respondents cited that they
had not received any practical help whatsoever in terms of
achieving these objectives, which often involve writing CVs and
covering letters, making applications or simple financial
management.
Financial literacy
was cited as the biggest skill respondents felt lacking in when
answering this question, and they would like to have learnt more
about mortgages, savings, investments and how to open a bank
account.
Question 8 – Is it important that the
qualifications young people in Wales achieve are respected and
valued by potential employers, colleges and universities in other
parts of the UK and the rest of the world?
Total number of
responses: 1,100
-
Extremely important: 48.45%
(533)
-
Important: 40.63%
(447)
-
Somewhat important: 8.72%
(96)
-
Not very important: 2.18%
(24)
Question 9 – Do you think you will
want to study or work outside of Wales in future?
Total number of
responses: 1,103
-
Yes: 53.03% (585)
-
No: 13.05% (155)
-
Don’t know: 33.63%
(371)
-
I am currently working or studying outside of Wales:
0.27% (3)
Comments
-
214 young people stated that they would like to study or work
outside of Wales, whether within the UK or abroad;
-
17 respondents felt that this decision premised on their final
grades;
-
81 young people argued that they would like to stay in Wales to
work and/or study;
-
284 young people felt that they would have to work and/or study
outside of Wales because there are more work opportunities and
better Academic Institutions;
-
22 respondents argued that as Welsh speakers, they want to stay in
Wales but may feel that they have to leave due to the work
opportunities available to them;
-
6 young people stated that the courses they want to study at
University/College were only available outside of Wales.
