Overall responsibility for the administration of the education system in Wales, for implementing legislation and formulating secondary legislation lies with the National Assembly for Wales (NAfW). Central government, that is, the UK Parliament in London, via the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) retains primary legislation-making powers for education. In reality, many responsibilities are delegated to local education authorities and school governing bodies.
A single body, Estyn, inspects pre-school education, schools and further education institutions in Wales.
Most publicly-funded schools receive all of their funding via the local authority (LA).
Private sector education is that provided in schools which are not funded by their local authority, and receive most of their income from tuition fees. There is private provision at all levels of education. Generally known as independent schools, private schools must be registered with the National Assembly for Wales (NAfW) and are subject to school inspections.
In 2000, approximately 96 per cent of students in primary, secondary and further education in the UK (including Scotland) attended publicly-funded institutions, with the remaining four per cent in private, non grant-aided institutions, such as independent schools.
The language of instruction is either English or Welsh. Parental preferences for the language of instruction can normally, but not always, be met, either by choosing a particular school, or by choosing a particular stream within a bilingual school. Welsh-medium pre-school education is also available, and some further and higher education courses are also taught through the medium of Welsh, although not in all subject areas. All pupils in Wales are required to follow a programme of study in Welsh, either as a first or second language, throughout the years of compulsory education.
Education in Wales is compulsory from age 5 to age 16. Many children in Wales start in the reception class of primary school at age 4.
Parents may apply to any school for a place for their child. The local education authority or school governing body (depending on the legal category of school) must establish an admissions policy to explain how places will be allocated if there are more applications than places at a school. All secondary schools in Wales are comprehensive schools, accepting pupils without regard to academic ability.
Compulsory education is organised into two phases – primary and secondary education - and four key stages as follows:
| Phases | Age range and key stages | Year of compulsory education |
| Primary education | 5 – 11 years | |
| Key Stage 1, 5-7 years | Years 1 and 2 of compulsory education | |
| Key Stage 2, 7-11 years | Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 of compulsory education | |
| Secondary education | 11-16 years | |
| Key Stage 3, 11-14 years | Years 7, 8 and 9 of compulsory education | |
| Key Stage 4, 14-16 years | Years 10 and 11 of compulsory education |
Government-funded, part-time pre-compulsory education is available for all children from the age of 3 whose parents request it. This can be provided in LA-funded nursery schools or classes, in the reception classes of local primary schools, or in nursery schools, day nurseries or schools run by the private and voluntary sectors, which generally receive some government funding for this purpose. Pre-compulsory provision for children under the age of 3 is usually provided by the private and voluntary sectors and paid for by parents.
There are plans to introduce a “Foundation Phase” of education for children aged 3 to 7 in Wales.
In January 2003, 79 per cent of 3- and 4- year-olds in Wales were in some form of early years provision.
Full-time, post-compulsory upper secondary education for 16- to 18-year-olds is offered in the sixth form of many secondary schools and in sixth form colleges. Further education or tertiary colleges also provide full- or part-time education and training for students over compulsory school age (16+).
Students at this level can take either vocational or academic courses or a combination of both, selected from the range offered by the school or further education institution. The curriculum is determined by this choice of courses; there is no compulsory core curriculum during this phase. Further education or tertiary colleges generally offer more vocational course options than schools or sixth form colleges.
Post-compulsory education is free of charge up to the age of 19. Students may apply to any institution offering their choice of course.
Children are identified as having special educational needs (SEN) if they have “a learning difficulty which calls for special educational provision to be made” for them. Wherever possible, this provision should be in ordinary mainstream schools alongside their peers. Where this is not possible, the usual alternatives are special classes or units in mainstream schools, special school provision, or education at home.
In legislation, gifted students are not identified as having special educational needs, although some local authorities do cater for this situation in their special education provision.
The school year usually runs from September to July and is divided into three terms with a long summer break of around six weeks in July and August, shorter breaks of around two weeks at Christmas and Easter, and one week in the middle of each term. Some schools are currently piloting a six-term year.
The school year consists of 380 half-day sessions; one in the morning between around 9am and 12 noon, the other in the afternoon usually between 1pm and 3.30pm. There is no fixed number of lessons per week.
Recommended minimum weekly lesson times (excluding break) are 21 hours for 5- to 7-year-olds; 23.5 hours for 7- to 11-year-olds; and 24 hours for 11- to 16-year-olds.
There is a statutory National Curriculum for compulsory phase education (5- to 16-year-olds) and a linked national system of assessment. Independent schools may or may not choose to follow these.
At primary level (Key Stages 1 and 2, ages 5 to 11), the National Curriculum includes English (and/or Welsh), mathematics, science, information technology (IT), design and technology, history, geography, art, physical education (PE) and music. A modern foreign language may be offered. Personal and social education (PSE) and religious education is compulsory for all pupils in Wales.
In Key Stage 3, 11- to 14-year-olds study the same National Curriculum subjects as during Key Stages 1 and 2, with the addition of a modern foreign language. Religious education, personal and social education (PSE) and sex education are also compulsory. Careers education also becomes compulsory in the final year of Key Stage 3.
At Key Stage 4, the compulsory subjects for 14- to 16-year-olds are English, Welsh, mathematics, science, physical education, religious education, personal and social education (PSE), sex education, careers education and work related education (WRE).
An increasing range of vocational and alternative subject options and qualifications at Key Stage 4 are being introduced. In addition, there are increased possibilities for schools to vary the curriculum for individual students during this key stage.
Religious education and collective worship must be provided by publicly-funded schools. Although religious education is an additional statutory subject requirement throughout compulsory education, parents have the right to withdraw their children from collective worship and from religious education lessons.
Children at all stages of compulsory education (ages 5 to 16) are required to follow a course in personal and social education (PSE), which is a statutory curriculum subject in Wales.
Students in compulsory secondary education must be provided with careers education and sex education. Schools must also offer students some work related education (WRE) during Key Stage 4.
Textbooks are commercially produced, not approved by government and selected for classroom use by teachers. Although, in general, compulsory booklists do not exist, there are some prescribed texts which students must study at secondary level to meet the requirements of certain examination syllabuses. Publicly-funded schools provide textbooks for students during compulsory phase education.
Statutory assessment (teacher assessment and some externally set tests) takes place on or around the age of entry to compulsory education (children aged 4 to 5 years). There is also statutory teacher assessment at the end of Key Stages 1 and 2 (7- and 11-year-olds). The previous statutory national tests at the end of Key Stage 1 became non-compulsory in the 2001-02 school year; those at the end of Key Stage 2 in the 2004-05 school year. New tests in literacy, numeracy and problem-solving look likely to be introduced in Year 5 (10-year-olds). National Curriculum testing at the end of Key Stage 3 (age 14) is also shortly to be phased out. Teacher assessment will remain compulsory.
Teachers must provide at least one written report for each student in each academic year and, where students have taken part in statutory assessment, parents must be informed of their child’s results.
Assessment on completion of compulsory education (at age 16) usually involves General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) examinations. Traditionally taken in academic subjects, and increasingly available in a range of vocational subject areas, GCSE qualifications are usually required for access to further study. ‘Entry-level awards’ are also available for students who, on reaching compulsory school leaving age, are judged not to be ready for GCSEs or similar qualifications.
The main qualifications offered in post-compulsory education in schools are GCE ‘A’ Levels, GCE Advanced Subsidiary qualifications and Vocational Certificates of Education. Success in these qualifications is usually required for university entrance.
Other institutions providing post-compulsory education offer a vast range of general, academic, vocational and recreational courses and qualifications.
Initial teacher training is usually provided in higher education institutions. The main routes are the ‘concurrent route’ (three or four years full-time, leading to the Bachelor of Education degree) and the ‘consecutive route’ (one year of full-time postgraduate study leading to the award of the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)). Both routes are common for primary school teachers; the latter route is more common for secondary teachers. There are also an increasing number of part-time, flexible and employment-based routes to qualification as a teacher.
Initial teacher training courses lead to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in Wales.