Working with schools in Wales

We’re working with schools across Wales to support pupils, families and staff. 

The opportunities  we offer can be integrated into school priorities and timetables, helping learners explore their next steps and develop key skills.

Whether you’re a sixth form student considering your next steps, a teacher looking for new classroom activities, or a parent/ carer supporting your child while also developing your own skills, we can help. This includes helping learners take their next steps into higher education, whether it’s starting an undergraduate degree or topping up their existing study.

How we work with schools

We work with schools across Wales in a number of programmes:

We deliver a programme of activities for schools across Wales, supporting the curriculum, and helping learners develop new skills.. This includes:

  • a media hub aligned to the curriculum
  • materials which develop critical thinking, future skills and learner wellbeing
  • projects tailored to sixth form, 14–16 and transition years. 

We’ve developed NEP activities to be a low‑burden for staff while adding value to your teaching. 

We work closely with Seren coordinators and sixth form leads to support high achieving learners considering higher education. 

Our work includes:

  • creating academic skills materials
  • offering tailored OpenLearn pathways to help people prepare for university
  • support for Seren staff through the OpenLearn Champions programmes 

We help parents and carers build their skills and confidence This can improve outcomes for learners, and help them and the wider school community. 

Through sessions with schools, we talk to families about

  • free, online courses to help people with employment
  • different ways for adults to get into higher education
  • confidence, study skills and employability workshops
  • flexible learning with the OU. 

We have flexible learning for young people outside non-traditional education, including:

  • free OpenLearn courses linked to personal interests, or different areas of the curriculum
  • resources to help with wellbeing, resilience and confidence

guidance for carers, foster families and adults who support learners. Our flexible learning model helps learners avoid being left behind, and follow new routes into further or higher education. 

Collaboration 

We’re currently developing new partnerships with schools across Wales through a series of pilot projects, which are helping us develop new ways to support them. These include:

  • a sixth‑form pilot with six schools across the Bridgend and Caerphilly local authorities, where we deliver our Schools National Enrichment Programme (NEP)
  • a family-engagement pilot with five primary schools and one comprehensive school in Swansea, helping parents build confidence, develop new skills and explore new routes into learning. 

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