P-05-788 Remove the compulsory aspect of Welsh Baccalaureate – Correspondence from the petitioner to the Committee, 01.03.18

Hi Graeme,

I know I sent through comments previously so you can certainly include those and I've added some below if that's easier for you.

The Minister is being disingenuous when she says children are 'encouraged' to study Welsh Bac, schools are judged on this qualification in the league tables so have little or no option other than to demand all students study the subject and do not give a choice to them, no one outside of education that I have spoken to has ever been made aware that it is not compulsory.  As for the comment of "Let me reassure you that the current specifications for the Welsh Baccalaureate at Key Stage 4 and post 16 do not sanction any behaviour or content that is detrimental to learners’ wellbeing; including gambling or the encouragement of fiscal irresponsibility."

I'm unsure if the Minister has ever looked at the tasks being set, in my original petition statement I clarified that the first task set for my daughter asked the children to 'imagine you've won £1000 on a scratchcard and plan a fun day' - how is 'imagined' gambling and the subsequent frittering of what is, in scratchcard wins, a highly unlikely large sum of money. 

If the Welsh Bac is indeed only 'encouraged' then parents and children must be made aware of this fact and MUST be able to decline to study it.  And for those children who do decide that this subject will enhance their education and future prospects, the content must be examined to ensure that nothing is included that could cause them difficulties in the future.

I am very happy to join you in a session if you would like any further detail or clarification of any point.

Graeme, if you need anything else or are unsure of anything, please let me know, thank you for your help,

Very best wishes

Katharine