What shapes upper secondary pathways and transitions?
Insights for Wales
Learners' pathways through upper secondary education are shaped by the curriculum
that sets out a vision for education, the programmes learners take, and the systems
of assessment and certification that serve as the ultimate goalposts. The organisation
of education settings shapes the learning options available to learners. These policy
levers all influence learners' readiness to transition and the support they receive
during transitions.
In Wales, upper secondary pathways are shaped by the cadence of certification and
the transition at age 16 to either further education or employment. The Curriculum
for Wales prioritises four key purposes, extending beyond academic achievements to
include broader goals for learners to be ambitious, confident and creative members
of society. This Policy Perspective suggests that achieving this vision and ensuring
equitable access to the breadth of the Curriculum for Wales will require explicit
expectations built into policy levers like programmes, certifications and education
system monitoring.
Available from February 15, 2024
In series:OECD Education Policy Perspectivesview more titles