Skills Challenge Certificate

Introduction to the subject

The Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (SCC) is to help you develop more complex skills, attributes and behaviors. It will provide experiences which support your other subjects and which will enable you to be better prepared for your future destination, whether university, further training or employment. You will acquire and apply a range of transferable skills in different settings and context which will include planning activities, carrying out activities, reviewing outcomes and your own development.

Structure of the course

This A-Level is wholly assessed through Non-Exam Assessment throughout the 2 years.

Year 12 focus on starting all 3 Challenges, and completion of

Global Citizenship Challenge [15%]

Community Challenge [15%]

Year 13 completion of Enterprise and Employability Challenge [20%] and Individual Project [50%]

FAQ about the subject

Why follow a Skills based qualification?

Having a large number of qualifications such as GCSEs, A levels and a degree is not enough for employers. There are many other young people who will have the same qualifications as you and therefore when applying for a job it is extremely competitive. Employers want the academic ability but also a whole set of skills alongside and to know how you have applied them in different situations. Many of the very large employers have assessment centres where they invite suitable applicants to test their application of skills before making the final decisions on an appointment.

Is it the same as the Welsh Bacc?

The Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate is awarded at a Pass when you have passed the SCC and the supporting qualifications of another 2 A-Levels, and GCSEs in Maths/Numeracy and English Lang. It is worth noting that the grade you gain for the SCC is the one in your UCAS offer not the Welsh Baccalaureate.

How is Skills Challenge Certificate included in UCAS offers?

All Welsh Universities will include the Advanced SCC in their offers. Most other universities and most courses within universities also accept the SCC. Even the most competitive courses such as Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science will accept it as an alternative to an A level grade.

What view will Oxbridge take?

Oxford and Cambridge Universities may take a different approach in their consideration of assessment for admission, they assess applicants holistically. Students are encouraged to draw upon relevant SCC experiences when writing their personal statement and should refer to them at interview, even taking a copy of their Individual Project with them. Generally the SCC is not included in their 3 A level grade offers, however, it may be used as part of an offer.