Learning and Skills (Wales) Measure 2009

The Learning and Skills (Wales) Measure 2009 (‘the Measure’) is a move towards the implementation of the 14-19 Learning Pathways for young people. The key purpose of the Measure is to ensure that learners aged between 14 and 19 can choose from a wide range of vocational and general courses that form a local curriculum, and have an equal opportunity to do so, irrespective of where they live in Wales.

The Measure:

• enables the Welsh Ministers to make regulations specifying the minimum number of courses of study to be included within a local curriculum and the maximum number of courses of study a learner has the right to elect to follow;
• specifies the grounds on which a head teacher or principal may decide that, in certain circumstances, a learner is not entitled to follow a course they had elected to study;
• places a duty on local education authorities in relation to learners aged 14-16 and on the Welsh Ministers for learners aged 16-19, to form collaborative local area curricula;
• places a duty on governing bodies and head teachers of maintained schools and principals of further education institutions to assist with planning the local curriculum and a similar duty on local education authorities to assist the Welsh Ministers;
• requires local education authorities and the governing bodies of schools and further education institutions to seek to maximise the availability of courses of study within a local curriculum.

The Explanatory Notes to the Measure provide detailed commentary on the various provisions.

Coming into force

Sections 46 and 48 to 50 came into force at the end of the two-month period following Royal Approval (in other words on 13 July 2009), in accordance with section 49(1).

The remaining provisions of the Measure come into force on a day appointed by the Welsh Ministers by order, in accordance with section 49(2).

The following Orders have been made:

• The Learning and Skills (Wales) Measure 2009 (Commencement No 2) Order 2011
• The Learning and Skills (Wales) Measure 2009 (Commencement No. 1 and Transitional Provision) Order 2009

Subordinate legislation made under the Measure:

Consideration of the legislation by the Senedd

The Measure was introduced on 7 July 2008 by John Griffiths AM, who was the Deputy Minister for Skills at the time. The Measure was passed by Senedd Cymru (known then as the National Assembly for Wales) on 17 March 2009.

More information about the Measure is available on the Senedd website including a record of the passage of the Measure through the Senedd and the Explanatory Memorandum which was prepared by the Welsh Government (at introduction of the proposed Measure). 

The Measure received Royal Approval on 13 May 2009.

Related articles or material

• This statutory guidance provides details about how the Measure works in practice to benefit 14–19 young people, the economy and communities in Wales – April 2014
• This statutory guidance aims to provide details about how the Measure, as amended by the Education (Local Curriculum for Pupils in Key Stage 4) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, will work in practice to benefit young people, the economy and communities in Wales – March 2014.
• Inquiry into the Implementation of the Learning and Skills (Wales) Measure 2009 – Senedd Cymru
• 14 – 19 Learning Pathways – Briefing produced by Senedd Research
• Education and skills | Topic | GOV.WALES