Cymraeg

Hwb

Post-16 learning and skills

The Welsh Government is working with key stakeholders to ensure stability for the post-16 sector during and beyond the Covid-19 pandemic.

Overview

The Welsh Government is working closely with post-16 learning providers and our key stakeholders to support post-16 learners and staff.

The Welsh Government’s Covid-19 Resilience Plan for the Post-16 sector includes the higher education, further education, apprenticeships, employability and adult learning sectors.  Delivery of our plan will be co-ordinated with activities in the schools sector, to support learners’ transitions.

The plan sets out how we will work with our stakeholders to:

  • meet the changing needs of Welsh learners, communities and employers during and beyond the Covid-19 pandemic
  • support Wales’ economic and social recovery
  • help our learning providers, learners and staff to prepare for the “new normal”.

This page will be updated as further information becomes available.

  • Parents’ guidance

    This guidance for parents and carers of learners aged 16-19 in schools and colleges, aims to support learners and their families to stay safe, healthy and continue learning during the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Guidance for parents of 16-19 year old learners in school and college

    Mental health and well-being

    The Young Person’s Mental Health Toolkit contains six playlists designed to direct young people, aged 11 to 25, to a wide range of online resources that can help you through the lockdown and beyond.

    In each playlist there are self-help websites, apps, helplines, and more to support your mental health and wellbeing.

    Keeping safe online

    Hwb’s Keeping safe online zone supports children and young people, parents/carers, practitioners and governors, with online safety and cyber security.

    Distance learning resources to support learner transitions to FE and HE

    The Welsh Government is working with regional consortia, colleges, Careers Wales and many others in Wales to create online learning resources for learners in Year 11, to help them to prepare to transition to study A and AS level subjects in sixth form or at a further education college, and/or start vocational learning routes within the post-16 sector.

    The Welsh Government is working with universities in Wales to create online learning experiences and events for learners in Year 13, to help them prepare to transition to higher education.

    e-Seren

    The Seren network supports the most academically able students in state schools and further education colleges to help them gain entry to leading universities.  A number of Seren Academy distance learning resources for Year 12 and Year 13 students are now available on Hwb.

    Working Wales: furloughed workers

    Support for furloughed workers to improve their skills or learn new skills is available via Working Wales.

    WJEC resources (GCSE, A/AS level, Vocational)

    The awarding body WJEC is developing a range of student-focused resources designed specifically to help with home-learning and preparation for its qualifications.

    Welsh medium resources: Porth

    Porth is the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol’s new resource portal, offering access to a variety of Welsh-medium and bilingual post-16 educational resources.  The Coleg is continuing to add resources to this early version of the website.

    Learning Welsh

    The National Centre for Learning Welsh is starting new courses (including online classes) in October 2020.

    The Centre also offers online learning resources.

    Learn My Way

    Learn My Way provides free courses to help individuals improve their basic digital skills and get online.  These courses are designed to help people access public services, banking, health information and more.

    Post-16 qualifications: guidance for A level learners

    A Guide for learners studying AS, A level and Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate qualifications from September 2020.

  • Covid-19: Frequently Asked Questions

    The Welsh Government publishes answers to Frequently Asked Questions relating to Covid-19, including:

    Strategic framework for learning delivery from September 2020

    Our overall principles for further education, work-based learning and adult learning for 2020/21.

    Guidance for safe operation from September 2020

    Guidance document setting out the arrangements for the safe delivery of learning from 1st September 2020 in the further education, work-based learning and adult learning sectors.

    Blended learning guidance for Post-16 providers

    We have worked closely with learning providers and partners to develop a plan for post-16 learning delivery from September 2020, which endorses a “blended learning” delivery model. This collection of material, developed in consultation with our Blended Learning Working Group, includes guidance on blended learning for learning providers and teaching practitioners.

    We are also developing material to support continuing professional development for staff working in the Post-16 sector.

    Digital learning resources available through Hwb

    Many digital learning resources published on Hwb can be viewed without requiring a Hwb account, including resources in our ‘Vocational and Post-16’ area, and resources to support preparation for GCSEs in English, Mathematics and Welsh.

    Toolkit for critical worker employers

    A toolkit and assets for use by critical worker employers to communicate the Test, Trace, Protect strategy.

    Covid-19: Support from Jisc

    Jisc offers help and support for its members with planning and response in relation to Covid-19.

    Learning providers in Wales who are Jisc members should contact their Account Manager for further details about any Jisc services.

    Post-16 qualifications: guidance for teachers in further education Colleges and school sixth forms

    Advice for teachers and lecturers delivering A Levels and Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Qualifications in schools and FE Colleges from September 2020.