- Latest available (Revised) - English
- Latest available (Revised) - Welsh
- Original (As enacted) - English
- Original (As enacted) - Welsh
Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021
You are here:
- Acts of Senedd Cymru
- 2021 asc 4
- PART 2
- CHAPTER 1
What Version
Advanced Features
- Show Geographical Extent(e.g. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
- Show Timeline of Changes
Opening Options
Changes to legislation:
There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021, CHAPTER 1.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the editorial team. Please see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for details regarding the timescales for which new effects are identified and recorded on this site.
CHAPTER 1E+WCURRICULUM DESIGN AND ADOPTION
GeneralE+W
9Introduction and interpretationE+W
(1)This Chapter makes provision about the design and adoption of a curriculum for any of the following—
(a)registered pupils at a maintained school, except those over compulsory school age;
(b)registered pupils at a maintained nursery school;
(c)children for whom funded non-maintained nursery education is provided.
(2)References in this Chapter to a school are to—
(a)a maintained school, or
(b)a maintained nursery school.
(3)In this Chapter—
(a)references to pupils, in relation to a school, are to registered pupils at the school, except those over compulsory school age;
(b)references to children, in relation to funded non-maintained nursery education, are to children for whom that education is provided;
(c)references to the adopted curriculum, in relation to a school, are to the curriculum adopted under section 11 by the head teacher and governing body of the school (and if that curriculum is revised under section 12, to the curriculum as revised);
(d)references to the adopted curriculum, in relation to funded non-maintained nursery education, are to the curriculum adopted under section 15 by the provider of the education (and if that curriculum is revised under section 16, to the curriculum as revised).
Commencement Information
I1S. 9 in force at 1.9.2022 for specified purposes by S.I. 2022/652, art. 5(1)(2)(a), Sch.
I2S. 9 in force at 1.9.2023 for specified purposes by S.I. 2022/652, art. 6(1)(2)(a)
Maintained schools and maintained nursery schoolsE+W
10Curriculum designE+W
(1)The head teacher of a school must design a curriculum for the school's pupils.
(2)That curriculum must comply with the requirements in sections 20 to 24, and any requirement imposed under section 25.
Commencement Information
I3S. 10 in force at 1.9.2022 for specified purposes by S.I. 2022/652, art. 5(1)(2)(a), Sch.
I4S. 10 in force at 1.9.2023 for specified purposes by S.I. 2022/652, art. 6(1)(2)(a)
11Curriculum adoptionE+W
(1)The head teacher and governing body of a school must—
(a)adopt the curriculum designed under section 10 as the curriculum for the school's pupils, and
(b)publish a summary of the adopted curriculum.
(2)But a curriculum may not be adopted under this section unless it complies with the requirements in sections 20 to 24, and any requirement imposed under section 25.
Commencement Information
I5S. 11 in force at 1.9.2022 for specified purposes by S.I. 2022/652, art. 5(1)(2)(a), Sch.
I6S. 11 in force at 1.9.2023 for specified purposes by S.I. 2022/652, art. 6(1)(2)(a)
12Curriculum review and revisionE+W
(1)The head teacher and governing body of a school must—
(a)keep the adopted curriculum under review, and
(b)ensure that it continues to comply with the requirements in sections 20 to 24, and any requirement imposed under section 25.
(2)In considering whether the adopted curriculum continues to comply with the requirements referred to in subsection (1)(b), the head teacher and governing body must have regard to information derived from any assessment arrangements implemented by them under regulations made under section 56.
(3)The head teacher and governing body of a school must revise the adopted curriculum if they consider it necessary to do so to ensure that it continues to comply with the requirements referred to in subsection (1)(b).
(4)The head teacher and governing body of a school may also revise the adopted curriculum if they consider it appropriate to do so at any time.
(5)If the head teacher and governing body of a school revise the adopted curriculum, they must publish a summary of the revised curriculum.
Commencement Information
I7S. 12 in force at 1.9.2022 for specified purposes by S.I. 2022/652, art. 5(1)(2)(a), Sch.
I8S. 12 in force at 1.9.2023 for specified purposes by S.I. 2022/652, art. 6(1)(2)(a)
Funded non-maintained nursery educationE+W
13Welsh Ministers' duty to publish a curriculumE+W
(1)The Welsh Ministers must publish a curriculum (the “section 13 curriculum”) that they consider suitable for children for whom funded non-maintained nursery education is provided.
(2)The section 13 curriculum must comply with the requirements in sections 20 to 24 F1....
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 13(2) omitted (1.9.2022) by virtue of The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (Consequential Amendments) (Primary Legislation) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/744), reg. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 1(2)
Commencement Information
I9S. 13 in force at 1.9.2022 for specified purposes by S.I. 2022/652, art. 5(1)(2)(a), Sch.
I10S. 13 in force at 1.9.2023 for specified purposes by S.I. 2022/652, art. 6(1)(2)(a)
14Review and revision of curriculum published by Welsh MinistersE+W
(1)The Welsh Ministers must—
(a)keep the section 13 curriculum under review, and
(b)ensure that it continues to comply with sections 20 to 24 F2....
(2)The Welsh Ministers must revise the section 13 curriculum if they consider it necessary to do so to ensure that it continues to comply with the requirements referred to in subsection (1)(b).
(3)The Welsh Ministers may also revise the section 13 curriculum if they consider it appropriate to do so at any time.
(4)If the Welsh Ministers revise the section 13 curriculum, they must publish the revised curriculum.
Textual Amendments
F2Words in s. 14(1)(b) omitted (1.9.2022) by virtue of The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (Consequential Amendments) (Primary Legislation) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/744), reg. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 1(3)
Commencement Information
I11S. 14 in force at 1.9.2022 for specified purposes by S.I. 2022/652, art. 5(1)(2)(a), Sch.
I12S. 14 in force at 1.9.2023 for specified purposes by S.I. 2022/652, art. 6(1)(2)(a)
15Curriculum adoptionE+W
(1)A provider of funded non-maintained nursery education must—
(a)adopt a curriculum for children for whom that education is provided (whether the section 13 curriculum or another curriculum the provider considers suitable), and
(b)publish a summary of the adopted curriculum.
(2)But a curriculum may not be adopted under this section unless it complies with the requirements in sections 20 to 24 F3....
Textual Amendments
F3Words in s. 15(2) omitted (1.9.2022) by virtue of The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (Consequential Amendments) (Primary Legislation) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/744), reg. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 1(4)
Commencement Information
I13S. 15 in force at 1.9.2022 for specified purposes by S.I. 2022/652, art. 5(1)(2)(a), Sch.
I14S. 15 in force at 1.9.2023 for specified purposes by S.I. 2022/652, art. 6(1)(2)(a)
16Curriculum review and revisionE+W
(1)A provider of funded non-maintained nursery education must—
(a)keep the adopted curriculum under review, and
(b)ensure that it continues to comply with sections 20 to 24 F4....
(2)In considering whether the adopted curriculum continues to comply with the requirements referred to in subsection (1)(b), the provider must have regard to information derived from any assessment arrangements implemented by the provider under regulations made under section 56.
(3)The provider must revise the adopted curriculum if the provider considers it necessary to do so to ensure that it continues to comply with the requirements referred to in subsection (1)(b).
(4)The provider may also revise the adopted curriculum if the provider considers it appropriate to do so at any time.
(5)If the provider has adopted the section 13 curriculum, and the Welsh Ministers revise that curriculum under section 14, the provider must consider whether it is appropriate to revise the adopted curriculum under subsection (4) so as to reflect the revisions made under section 14.
(6)If the provider revises the adopted curriculum, the provider must publish a summary of the revised curriculum.
Textual Amendments
F4Words in s. 16(1)(b) omitted (1.9.2022) by virtue of The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (Consequential Amendments) (Primary Legislation) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/744), reg. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 1(5)
Commencement Information
I15S. 16 in force at 1.9.2022 for specified purposes by S.I. 2022/652, art. 5(1)(2)(a), Sch.
I16S. 16 in force at 1.9.2023 for specified purposes by S.I. 2022/652, art. 6(1)(2)(a)
Supplementary provisionE+W
17Power to make supplementary provision about curriculum adoption and revisionE+W
Regulations may make provision about—
(a)steps to be taken before a curriculum is adopted under this Part (including provision about steps to be taken in order to determine whether a proposed curriculum is suitable for adoption);
(b)the date by which a curriculum must be adopted under this Part;
(c)additional circumstances in which an adopted curriculum must be revised.
Commencement Information
I17S. 17 in force at 1.9.2022 for specified purposes by S.I. 2022/652, art. 5(1)(2)(a), Sch.
I18S. 17 in force at 1.9.2023 for specified purposes by S.I. 2022/652, art. 6(1)(2)(a)
18Power to make supplementary provision about curriculum summariesE+W
Regulations may make provision—
(a)about information that is to be included in a summary of an adopted curriculum published under this Part;
(b)about the publication of a summary of an adopted curriculum (including provision about how publication must take place, and the date by which it must take place).
Commencement Information
I19S. 18 in force at 1.9.2022 for specified purposes by S.I. 2022/652, art. 5(1)(2)(a), Sch.
I20S. 18 in force at 1.9.2023 for specified purposes by S.I. 2022/652, art. 6(1)(2)(a)
Options/Help
Print Options
PrintThe Whole Act
PrintThe Whole Part
PrintThis Chapter only
Legislation is available in different versions:
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. The revised version is currently only available in English.
Original (As Enacted or Made) - English: The original English language version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Original (As Enacted or Made) - Welsh:The original Welsh language version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
See additional information alongside the content
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Opening Options
Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once
Explanatory Notes
Text created by the Welsh Government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes accompany all Acts of Senedd Cymru.
More Resources
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- correction slips
- links to related legislation and further information resources
Timeline of Changes
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
More Resources
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
- correction slips
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- links to related legislation and further information resources
All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. This site additionally contains content derived from EUR-Lex, reused under the terms of the Commission Decision 2011/833/EU on the reuse of documents from the EU institutions. For more information see the EUR-Lex public statement on re-use.