Quick Summary: The Curriculum for Wales 2022 replaced traditional Key Stages with 6 Areas of Learning and Experience (AoLEs) evaluated across Progression Steps 1 to 5. Primary school pupils in Years 3–6 span Progression Steps 2 and 3, focusing on holistic conceptual understanding, mandatory Welsh language, and real-world skills rather than rigid high-stakes testing.
Since September 2022, every primary school in Wales has been teaching a new curriculum, the Curriculum for Wales 2022. It’s a significant departure from the old national curriculum, and many parents are still getting to grips with what it means for their child’s education.
This guide explains the Curriculum for Wales in plain English: what it is, how it’s different from England, what your child learns, and how your child is assessed.
What Is the Curriculum for Wales 2022?
The Curriculum for Wales 2022 (CfW) is the programme all Welsh state schools follow from ages 3 to 16. It replaced the old national curriculum (which Wales previously shared with England) and took full effect in primary schools from September 2022.
The Welsh Government describes it as the biggest reform to Welsh education in decades. Rather than dividing learning into traditional subjects with detailed programmes of study, it organises everything into six Areas of Learning and Experience (AoLEs) and gives schools considerable freedom in how they design and deliver the curriculum.
The Six Areas of Learning and Experience
Three things cut across all six areas as cross-curricular responsibilities: Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Competence. Schools are expected to develop these skills in every subject, not just in dedicated lessons.
The Four Purposes
At the heart of the CfW are four purposes. These are the goals that everything in the curriculum is designed to work towards. By the end of their education, Welsh schools aim to produce learners who are:
- Ambitious, capable learners, ready to learn throughout their lives
- Enterprising, creative contributors, ready to play a full part in life and work
- Ethical, informed citizens, of Wales and the world
- Healthy, confident individuals, leading fulfilling lives
How Does It Differ From England?
| England (National Curriculum) | Wales (Curriculum for Wales 2022) |
|---|---|
| Divided into traditional subjects (Maths, English, Science etc.) | Six broad Areas of Learning and Experience |
| Detailed national programmes of study per subject | Schools have more flexibility in curriculum design |
| Year 6 SATs in May | No SATs. Teacher assessment plus online personalised assessments |
| Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check | No Multiplication Tables Check |
| No compulsory Welsh language | Welsh compulsory to age 16 in all schools |
| Key stages (KS1, KS2, KS3) | Progression steps across a single continuum 3–16 |
How Is My Child Assessed?
This is where the CfW differs most significantly from England. There are no SATs in Wales. Assessment is primarily through teacher assessment. Your child’s teacher observes and evaluates their learning throughout the year and reports against the CfW progression steps.
There are also personalised assessments, taken online at a time the school chooses during the year for pupils in Years 2 to 9. These are adaptive online assessments. They adjust difficulty based on your child’s responses. This helps teachers understand progress and plan next steps. They’re considerably less pressured than SATs and don’t require specific preparation in the same way.
For Welsh parents supporting learning at home: Because the CfW emphasises broad learning rather than test preparation, the most valuable home support is building genuine skills. Read regularly, practise maths fluency, and encourage curiosity about science and the world. These things directly support both the teacher assessment and the national tests without specific “SATs preparation” pressure.
What About Maths, English and Science Specifically?
Despite the different structure, the core academic content your child learns is broadly similar to England. In mathematics, Welsh children cover number, calculation, fractions, geometry, measurement and data across Years 3–6. In English, they develop reading comprehension, writing composition, grammar and spelling. In science (as part of Science and Technology), they cover biology, chemistry and physics topics equivalent to those in English KS2.
The main differences are in organisation and emphasis. Welsh schools have more flexibility in how they sequence and deliver these topics, which is why comparing directly to English year group objectives doesn’t always work cleanly.
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