Agored Cymru

This time of year can be stressful for those in education.

With Results Day, lots of learners will open envelopes that unlock new and different journeys for the next stage of their lives.

Our Deputy CEO and Responsible Officer, Jo Creeden, has a message for those feeling the pressure.

“If I could give one piece of advice, it would be this - take a deep breath, you don’t have to have your whole life figured out just yet.

There can be so much pressure to know what you want to do, where you’re going, who you want to be and how successful you’re supposed to become.

But the truth is, life rarely follows a straight line, and that’s perfectly okay.

You might change your mind. You might make mistakes. You might take a completely unexpected path. You might have absolutely no idea what you’re doing for a while.

Welcome to being human!

Don’t compare your journey with everyone else’s. Social media can make it look as though everyone else has perfect lives, amazing careers, wonderful relationships and beautifully organised homes.

Trust me, nobody has it all figured out!

Work hard, but remember to live. Take opportunities. Try things that scare you. Make mistakes and learn from them.

Look after your mental and physical wellbeing. Surround yourself with people who make you laugh, support you and want the best for you.

Be kind to others, but also to yourself. Ask for help when you need it. Celebrate the little victories. And never be embarrassed to change direction if something no longer feels right.

Most importantly, always remember that your worth is not measured by your grades, your job, your salary, your appearance or how quickly you achieve things.

You are allowed to take your time.

You are allowed to change your mind.

You are allowed to start again.

Life is a journey, not a race, and some of the best parts often happen when you take the scenic route.

And if you eventually figure it all out, please let the rest of us know. We’re still waiting!”

Whatever is in that envelope, be proud of how far you’ve come.

Congratulations to all learners getting their results today! 🎉🥳

At Agored Cymru, we know that there’s so much more that goes into a learner’s journey than the final grade in the envelope, so we want to shout out the teaching staff showing up for their learners every day.

You’ve all helped shape today’s results and the futures they represent: university, apprenticeships, straight to work, or something else entirely.

Whether your learners are out celebrating or exploring new avenues, your impact is felt far beyond the classroom!

Have you been part of Wales’ largest cultural festival this week?

The National Eisteddfod has been celebrating 850 years of traditional culture and competition during the last week, and some of our team headed down to take part!

To commemorate the Eisteddfod (and August’s Cymraeg Corner), this month’s word is…

“cystadleuaeth” - pronounced “kys-dad-lay-eye-th” (”th” as in “think”!)

If you have friends or family at the Eisteddfod, you may have heard things like:

“Mae’r gystadleuaeth heddiw.” - “The competition is today.”

At Agored Cymru, we believe in the power of the Welsh language and the community and culture it provides, which is why we're very proud to offer every single unit and qualification we produce bilingually.

It is woven throughout all of our processes both internally and externally, and is a key part of our identity as a Welsh awarding body.

Congratulations to everyone that took part in a competition this week!

Do you know the story of Hedd Wyn and Y Gadair Ddu (The Black Chair)?

For August’s Cymraeg Corner, we wanted to share a piece of Welsh history serving as reminder of the lives lost during the First World War, honouring this week’s Eisteddfod.

Read through our post to discover more about the life of Ellis Evans, and the legacy he left behind for Welsh poetry.

We’ll be talking more about the Eisteddfod this week, so watch this space!

Have you looked through our Personal Project Mini Guide yet?

It covers everything you need to know: what the Personal Project is all about, what topics learners cover, how it’s assessed, the grading structure, and why centres should choose Agored Cymru as their Wave 3 awarding body.

With the summer holidays now underway, we know many people across schools are taking a well-deserved break.

If you’re switching off for now, why not save this post and come back to it as you prepare for the new term?

Read the Agored Cymru Personal Project Mini Guide here: https://canva.link/aqof3zp0j15gevb

This week, over 900 lives will be changed.

Across Wales, over 900 learners will be awarded an Agored Cymru Access to HE Diploma.

Behind every diploma is a different story. A parent returning to education. Someone changing careers. Someone becoming the first in their family to go to university.

To us, the Access to HE Diploma has always been about more than higher education.

In 2024-2025, almost 1 in 2 learners registered on an Access to HE Diploma at an Agored Cymru centre were from an area of disadvantage. For many, the diploma provides an opportunity they never thought would be possible.

We’re incredibly proud to support learners creating new opportunities for themselves, their families, and their communities.

To everyone graduating this year, huge congratulations from the Agored Cymru team! Whether you’re heading to university, starting a new career, or taking your next step, we wish you every success.

We're incredibly proud of what you've achieved, and proud to work alongside the further education colleges across Wales that deliver this life-changing qualification.

Congratulations, Class of 2025-26!

What does an Exams & Assessment Officer do?

A big part of the role is making sure assessments run smoothly behind the scenes.

From coordinating assessment materials and supporting centres, to processing results and keeping accurate records, you'll be helping make sure every stage of the assessment process is secure, organised and delivered on time.

It's a role for someone who enjoys solving problems, keeping on top of the details and working as part of a team to make sure everything goes to plan.

Experience in qualifications or assessments is a bonus, but it's not essential. If you've got strong administrative skills and you're looking for a new challenge, we'd love to hear from you.

Applications close on 31 July. If you've been thinking about applying, now's a great time to take a look at the role and see if it's the right fit for you.

Job description 👉: https://www.agored.cymru/About-Us/Vacancies

Education in Wales is changing.

From September 2027, schools will begin delivering the new National 14–16 Qualifications for Wales, giving learners more flexibility to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they'll need beyond the classroom.

One of the biggest changes is the new Skills Suite.

Made up of 49 Skills for Life and Skills for Work units, it allows schools to build programmes that reflect the needs and interests of their learners, while supporting meaningful progression into further education, training and employment.

The Skills Suite is built on vocational learning, and vocational qualifications are what we're known for. For more than 30 years, we've been developing qualifications that help learners build practical knowledge, confidence and real-world skills. We've brought that experience into every one of the 49 Skills Suite units.

Our Skills Suite specification has now been approved by Qualifications Wales, with the draft specification coming soon.

In the meantime, we've created a free Mini Guide to introduce the Skills Suite and what it could mean for your curriculum.

Interested in finding out more? Complete our short form and a member of our team will be in touch to discuss how the Skills Suite could work in your school.

https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/1DybpfnpfSROnTvpHN2Y3WA2e4j8w

There's still time to apply to join team Agored Cymru...

Applications for the below roles close this Friday (17 July). ⏰

We're currently recruiting for:
📃 Head of Quality Assurance & Assessment
✅ Compliance, Risk and Audit Manager
🏫 Business Account Manager (FE/AHE)

If one of these roles sounds like a good fit, we'd love to hear from you.

You can view the job descriptions and apply on our website: https://www.agored.cymru/About-Us/Vacancies

The roles are also advertised on the Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) Jobs Board.

Applications are welcome in both Welsh and English, and Welsh-language recruitment documents are available on our website.