Written statement (Wales) on Science GCSEs - Sep 16

Lynne Neagle MS, Cabinet Secretary for Education: Qualifications Wales, in its role as independent regulator, has today announced its decision to continue to listen to the education sector and undertake a further consultation in autumn 2028 on the suite of GCSE Science qualifications available to learners in Wales. As a consequence, they have also confirmed that separate science GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics will continue to be available to schools and learners, pending the outcome of that consultation.

Therefore, from September 2026, schools will be able to offer their learners the existing separate science GCSEs and new, reformed GCSEs in The Sciences (double award) and Integrated Science (single award). The timing of the consultation will allow these new qualifications to be embedded in schools and awarded for the first time, prior to the consultation taking place.

I welcome this decision by Qualifications Wales, and its continued engagement with schools, colleges and other stakeholders, which has informed it. 

Learners can be confident that both the new The Sciences GCSE (double award) and existing separate science GCSEs will continue to support progression to AS and A levels in biology, chemistry and physics, and on to STEM careers where that is their chosen pathway.