Welsh Baccalaureate Teacher Conference

More than 100 teachers from across Wales have gathered at Cardiff University for an event designed to help develop their skills and confidence in delivering a new aspect of the Welsh Baccalaureate. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Welsh Baccalaureate Teachers Conference (5 July 2016) was hosted by the University’s School of Social Sciences and is the second time the event has been held at the University. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This year’s programme was developed by Cardiff University researchers in partnership with the WJEC and advisory teachers and is focused on the new Individual Project and Global Citizenship Challenges component of the Welsh Baccalaureate. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Delegates had the opportunity to attend four researcher–led workshops which were aimed at supporting the delivery of assessed skills including critical thinking and problem solving. Other workshops focused on research methods, including planning, data collection, data-sets and analysis. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Along with the workshops delegates had the opportunity to join a lunchtime forum, where they found out about other Welsh Baccalaureate events, activities and resources offered by Cardiff University and partner organisations including the WJEC, Welsh Government and National Museum of Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event was led by Rhys Jones, Lecturer in Quantitative Methods FE in the School of Social Sciences: “Following on from last year’s success, we created an event that echoes the needs of teachers and lecturers of the Welsh Baccalaureate, across Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This year there were more workshops, including hands on activities, to support the delivery of this valued qualification. The event is a valuable opportunity for us and the FE/Schools sector to work together to ensure students are prepared for higher education.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Conference was supported by Cardiff University’s Schools Partnership Project as part of the Welsh Baccalaureate Programme which is funded by Research Councils UK. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sue Diment the University’s Schools Partnership Officer said: “The Welsh Baccalaureate Conference is a great event for teachers to learn new skills and improve their confidence in the teaching and assessment of the Individual Project and Global Citizenship Challenges. Equally, the event enables researchers to engage directly with schools and colleges, sharing their research and expertise and enthusing teachers to help raise aspirations in their students and support the development of the next generation of researchers.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Patricia Price, the University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Student Experience & Academic Standards said: “I’m delighted to see the way in which this collaboration has grown so successfully, over such a short period of time. By working closely with the WJEC and teaching staff on the new Baccalaureate, Cardiff University is demonstrating its commitment to raising aspirations for pupils in Wales to continue their skill development and help prepare them for a University experience. My thanks go to all of those who have made the conference such a success.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​