For a diagram of the organisation of the education system, see the ‘Overview’.

The subheadings which follow provide a broad picture of the learning opportunities available across the different phases of the education system.

Early childhood education and care 

The Foundation Phase covers the age range 3 to 7. It combines non-compulsory early years education (ages 3 to 5) (ISCED 0) and Key Stage 1 (ages 5 to 7) (ISCED 1).

Education is compulsory from the school term following a child’s fifth birthday (beginning in September, January and April). However, admission authorities must provide for all children to join the reception class in primary school in the September following their fourth birthday. As a result, many children reach compulsory school age during the reception class. See the subheading ‘Admission requirements and choice of school’ in the article ‘Organisation of Primary Education’ for further information.

For the parents of children aged 3 and 4 in the Foundation Phase, there is a general entitlement to 10 hours per week of free (Welsh Government-funded) education for 38 weeks of the year. From September 2020,  this entitlement increased to 30 hours per week for 48 weeks of the year (this includes 9 weeks outside of term time), for 3- and 4-year-olds whose parents are in employment.

There is no general entitlement to free early childhood education and care (ECEC) for children under the age of three, although parents can choose to pay for ECEC in privately run or voluntary sector day nurseries, or with childminders or nannies.

Targeted provision, in the form of free childcare to parents of eligible 2- to 3-year-olds in some of the most disadvantaged areas of Wales, is offered under the Welsh Government’s Flying Start programme. This includes provision for 12.5 hours a week for 39 weeks and at least 15 sessions of provision during the school holidays in addition.

The statutory curriculum for the Foundation Phase provides an informal system of learning based on well-structured play, practical activity and investigation for all 3- to 7-year-olds in both maintained and non-maintained settings. It is being reformed between 2018 and 2020 as the Welsh Government develops a new curriculum for 3- to 16-year-olds.

Primary and lower secondary education 

Full-time education is compulsory from the term following a child’s fifth birthday until age 16, and parents are responsible for ensuring that their child receives education. This duty is set out in Section 7 of the Education Act 1996:

‘The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to receive efficient full-time education suitable—

(a) to his age, ability and aptitude, and

(b) to any special educational needs he may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.’ 

For most children, ‘regular attendance at school or otherwise’ means attendance at a maintained school. It can also mean attendance at a fee-paying independent school (see the article ‘Organisation of Private Education’), or home education (known as ‘elective home education’, or EHE) (see the subheading ‘Home education’ below).

Maintained primary schools must teach pupils who are in the Foundation Phase the Foundation Phase Framework. Both primary schools and secondary schools must teach pupils over the age of seven the national curriculum (Curriculum for Wales), which is divided into key stages as follows:

• Key Stage 2 for pupils aged 7 to 11 – Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 in primary education (ISCED 1) 
• Key Stage 3 for pupils aged 11 to 14 – Years 7, 8 and 9 in secondary education (ISCED 2) 
• Key Stage 4 for pupils aged 14 to 16 – Years 10 and 11 in secondary education (ISCED 3). 

The new Curriculum for Wales became available in January 2020 and will be used throughout Wales by 2022. For further information on the Curriculum for Wales, see the articles on teaching and learning in primary and lower secondary education.

Although the age range catered for by individual schools is a matter for local determination, all schools are legally categorised as either primary or secondary schools and all follow the same key stages.

Pupils transfer from primary to secondary school at age 11 and, when they reach the end of compulsory full-time education (at the end of Key Stage 4, age 16), they take nationally recognised external qualifications. These fall into three main categories: GCSEs; non-GCSE technical and vocational qualifications; and Entry Level qualifications.

All primary schools and most secondary schools are mixed sex, and a small proportion of primary and secondary schools are faith schools. A small number of schools are Welsh-medium schools, and in some areas, English-Welsh bilingual education is the norm (Source: Schools’ Census Results: as at January 2020)

The Welsh Government is committed to non-selective, comprehensive school provision.

Upper secondary education 

The phase of education for 16- to 18/19-year-olds is not compulsory and is ISCED 3.

At age 16, depending on the local offer and their own preferences, young people may continue at the same school in the sixth form, or transfer to another school sixth form. Schools offer general academic programmes, usually leading to A Levels, and may also offer a limited range of vocational courses. It is more common for pupils wishing to undertake vocational education to transfer to a further education (FE) college at age 16, although most colleges offer both vocational and general academic courses.

Although they provide an overlapping range of programmes which can lead to the same external certification, schools and FE colleges operate within different legal frameworks. The further education sector is described in the Chapter ‘Adult Education and Training’, which should be read in conjunction with the information on this age group in the Chapter on ‘Secondary Education’.

Higher education 

Higher education institutions (HEIs) generally cater for students aged 18 and above. The length of programmes at this level varies between two years of full-time study for short-cycle programmes (ISCED 5); three or four years of full-time study for bachelor’s degrees with honours (ISCED 6); and at least one year of full-time study for a master’s degree (ISCED 7).

HEIs are independent, self-governing bodies empowered by a Royal Charter or an Act of Parliament to develop their own courses and award their own degrees.

Adult education and skills 

Outside of higher education, there is a large and diverse range of vocational programmes designed to prepare adult learners over the age of 19 for careers and jobs. Such programmes provide specific skills and ongoing development for work and support career progression. They typically lead to qualifications referenced to the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales (CQFW).

Adults who wish to improve their basic skills can take single subject recognised qualifications, such as Essential Skills Wales, or Entry Level qualifications. Others may work towards GCSEs, A Levels or the Access to Higher Education Diploma.

A large proportion of government-supported vocational learning is within apprenticeship frameworks, described in the article on ‘Main Types of Provision’, which should be read in conjunction with the article on ‘Teaching and Learning in Vocational Secondary Education’.

Workplace training is also funded by employers, through in-company training and learning from independent providers.

Adult community learning may include both non-formal learning and formal learning.

The major providers of further education (FE) and training for adults are further education colleges, which are self-governing corporations.

Home education  

Parents have the right to educate their children at home. Under Section 7 of the Education Act 1996, a child of compulsory school age may be educated either by regular attendance at school or otherwise. Reasons for choosing to home educate a child may include:

• ideological or philosophical
• health (including emotional health and well-being)
• cultural
• religious
• bullying
• special educational needs provision
• language choice
• length of school journey
• awaiting a place in the school of their choice
• flexibility and tailoring of approach.

Parents who choose to educate their child at home are responsible for ensuring that the education provided is efficient, full-time and suitable to the child’s age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs he/she may have. They do not have to follow the national curriculum for Wales, nor do they need to be qualified teachers. Parents must be prepared to assume full financial responsibility for their child’s education.

Local authorities have no statutory duties to monitor the quality of home education on a routine basis. They do though, under the Education Act 1996 (as amended), have duties to make arrangements to identify children not receiving a suitable education, and to intervene if it appears that a child is not receiving a suitable education. 

In July 2019, the Welsh Government began a consultation on draft statutory guidance for local authorities, to assist them when assessing the suitability of the education provided by parents for home educated children of compulsory school age. The consultation, which ran until 21 October 2019, also covers a handbook of support for home educating families.

Article last reviewed December 2020.