Qualifications and the LNF

The new National Qualifications for 14 to 16 year olds ask pupils to read, write, speak and work with numbers. This page shows which parts of the Literacy and Numeracy Framework (LNF) each qualification uses, and what pupils can practise in Years 7, 8 and 9 to be ready.

Start with a qualification, or start with a part of the LNF further down the page.

Choose a qualification

GCSEs

Art and Design

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2025

Literacy skills: 7, numeracy skills: 2

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Business

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2025

Literacy skills: 4, numeracy skills: 6

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: High
Computer Science

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2025

Literacy skills: 5, numeracy skills: 6

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: High
Core Cymraeg

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2025

Literacy skills: 9, numeracy skills: 1

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Cymraeg Language and Literature

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2025

Literacy skills: 10, numeracy skills: 0

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Dance

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2026

Literacy skills: 5, numeracy skills: 2

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Design and Technology

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2026

Literacy skills: 5, numeracy skills: 5

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Medium
Digital Media and Film

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2026

Literacy skills: 9, numeracy skills: 2

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Digital Technology

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2026

Literacy skills: 7, numeracy skills: 5

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: High
Drama

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2025

Literacy skills: 8, numeracy skills: 2

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low
English Language and Literature

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2025

Literacy skills: 9, numeracy skills: 1

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Food and Nutrition

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2025

Literacy skills: 5, numeracy skills: 5

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Medium
French

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2025

Literacy skills: 8, numeracy skills: 2

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Geography

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2025

Literacy skills: 4, numeracy skills: 6

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: High
German

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2025

Literacy skills: 8, numeracy skills: 2

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Health and Social Care, and Childcare

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2026

Literacy skills: 6, numeracy skills: 3

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low
History

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2026

Literacy skills: 6, numeracy skills: 2

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Integrated Science

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2026

Literacy skills: 5, numeracy skills: 7

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: High
Mathematics and Numeracy

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2025

Literacy skills: 3, numeracy skills: 10

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: High
Music

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2025

Literacy skills: 6, numeracy skills: 3

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Medium
Physical Education and Health

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2026

Literacy skills: 5, numeracy skills: 5

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: High
Religious Studies

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2025

Literacy skills: 7, numeracy skills: 1

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Social Studies

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2026

Literacy skills: 5, numeracy skills: 5

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Medium
Spanish

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2025

Literacy skills: 8, numeracy skills: 2

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low
The Sciences

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2026

Literacy skills: 5, numeracy skills: 7

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: High

VCSEs

Built Environment

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 8, numeracy skills: 7

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Medium
Creative and Media Production, and Technology

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 9, numeracy skills: 5

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Engineering

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 6, numeracy skills: 7

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: High
Hair and Beauty

VTCT Skills, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 8, numeracy skills: 4

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Hospitality and Catering

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 8, numeracy skills: 6

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Medium
Hospitality and Catering

VTCT Skills, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 7, numeracy skills: 5

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Medium
Performing Arts

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 8, numeracy skills: 3

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Performing Arts

RSL Awards, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 9, numeracy skills: 3

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Public Services

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 6, numeracy skills: 7

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Medium
Retail and Customer Service

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 9, numeracy skills: 4

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Sport and Leisure

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 6, numeracy skills: 8

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Medium
Travel and Tourism

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 7, numeracy skills: 6

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Medium

Foundation qualifications: general subjects

Core Cymraeg

WJEC, Entry Level

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 11, numeracy skills: 2

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Cymraeg

WJEC, Entry Level

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 10, numeracy skills: 0

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Design and Technology

WJEC, Entry Level and Level 1

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 8, numeracy skills: 5

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Digital Technology

WJEC, Entry Level and Level 1

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 7, numeracy skills: 5

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Medium
English

WJEC, Entry Level and Level 1

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 11, numeracy skills: 3

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Expressive Arts

WJEC, Entry Level and Level 1

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 8, numeracy skills: 4

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Humanities

WJEC, Entry Level and Level 1

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 8, numeracy skills: 4

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Mathematics and Numeracy

WJEC, Entry Level and Level 1

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 3, numeracy skills: 11

Amount of literacy work: Low

Amount of numeracy work: High
The Sciences

WJEC, Entry Level and Level 1

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 8, numeracy skills: 7

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Medium

Foundation qualifications: work-related subjects

Built Environment

WJEC, Entry Level and Level 1

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 8, numeracy skills: 4

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Creative and Media Production, and Technology

WJEC, Entry Level and Level 1

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 8, numeracy skills: 4

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Engineering

WJEC, Entry Level and Level 1

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 8, numeracy skills: 5

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Medium
Hair and Beauty

VTCT Skills, Entry Level and Level 1

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 7, numeracy skills: 3

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Health and Social Care, and Childcare

WJEC, Entry Level and Level 1

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 8, numeracy skills: 4

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Hospitality and Catering

WJEC, Entry Level and Level 1

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 8, numeracy skills: 5

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Hospitality and Catering

VTCT Skills, Entry Level and Level 1

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 7, numeracy skills: 6

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Public Services

WJEC, Entry Level and Level 1

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 10, numeracy skills: 3

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Retail and Customer Service

WJEC, Entry Level and Level 1

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 8, numeracy skills: 5

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Sport and Leisure

WJEC, Entry Level and Level 1

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 9, numeracy skills: 4

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Travel and Tourism

WJEC, Entry Level and Level 1

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 10, numeracy skills: 6

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Low

Skills for Life units

Unit	Awarding body	Hours	Literacy skills	Numeracy skills
Art and Crafts	WJEC	20	7	1
Art and Crafts	Pearson	20	3	1
Basic First Aid	WJEC	20	6	0
Basic First Aid	Pearson	20	5	0
British Sign Language	WJEC	20	5	3
British Sign Language	Pearson	20	5	2
Community Participation	WJEC	20	5	2
Community Participation	Pearson	20	5	1
Democracy In Action	WJEC	20	5	1
Democracy In Action	Pearson	10	4	0
Digital Film and Media	WJEC	20	5	1
Digital Film and Media	Pearson	20	4	1
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion	WJEC	20	5	0
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion	Pearson	10	3	0
Ethical Choices	WJEC	20	5	0
Ethical Choices	Pearson	10	4	0
Everyday Law	WJEC	20	5	1
Everyday Law	Pearson	10	5	0
Exercise For All	WJEC	20	4	2
Exercise For All	Pearson	20	4	2
Faith and Belief in the Community	WJEC	20	6	1
Faith and Belief in the Community	Pearson	20	4	1
Financial Literacy	WJEC	20	3	5
Financial Literacy	Pearson	10	3	4
Food Planning and Preparation	WJEC	20	3	3
Food Planning and Preparation	Pearson	20	3	2
Healthy Lifestyle	WJEC	20	4	2
Healthy Lifestyle	Pearson	20	4	2
Healthy Relationships	WJEC	20	6	0
Healthy Relationships	Pearson	10	5	0
Home Management and Maintenance	WJEC	20	4	3
Home Management and Maintenance	Pearson	20	4	4
International Language: Communicating Personal Information (Spoken)	WJEC	10	6	1
International Language: Communicating Personal Information (Written)	WJEC	10	7	1
International Language: Social Activities (Spoken)	WJEC	10	7	1
International Language: Social Activities (Written)	WJEC	10	7	1
Leading a Sport Activity Session	Pearson	20	5	1
Looking After Others	WJEC	20	4	1
Looking After Others	Pearson	20	4	1
Mental Health and Wellbeing	WJEC	20	5	1
Mental Health and Wellbeing	Pearson	20	4	0
Music, Dance and Drama	WJEC	20	4	1
Music, Dance and Drama	Pearson	20	3	1
Online Safety	WJEC	20	4	0
Online Safety	Pearson	10	5	0
Personal Safety	WJEC	20	5	1
Personal Safety	Pearson	20	4	1
Practical Gardening	WJEC	20	4	3
Practical Gardening	Pearson	20	3	2
Preparing for an Outdoor Expedition	Pearson	20	4	2
Science and Technology in Everyday Life	WJEC	20	4	1
Science and Technology in Everyday Life	Pearson	10	4	1
Skills in the Natural Environment	WJEC	20	4	2
Skills in the Natural Environment	Pearson	20	4	1
Sustainability In Action	WJEC	20	3	2
Sustainability In Action	Pearson	20	3	1
Teamwork	WJEC	20	4	1
Teamwork	Pearson	20	4	1
Understanding Self and Others	WJEC	20	5	0
Understanding Self and Others	Pearson	10	4	0
Values for Life	WJEC	20	5	0
Values for Life	Pearson	10	4	1

Skills for Work units

Each of these is a unit, not a whole qualification. A unit is 10 or 20 guided learning hours and can be taken at Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3, Level 1 or Level 2. Learners combine units into an Award (60 hours), a Certificate (120 hours) or a Diploma (240 hours). Units from Skills for Life and Skills for Work can also be combined into a Skills for Life and Work qualification, with at least a third of the hours from each.

Unit	Awarding body	Hours	Literacy skills	Numeracy skills
Applying for Jobs	WJEC	20	4	1
Applying for Jobs	Pearson	20	4	2
Building a Growth Mindset	WJEC	20	4	1
Building a Growth Mindset	Pearson	10	5	0
Business Finance	WJEC	20	2	6
Business Finance	Pearson	10	2	5
Career Creativity	WJEC	10	5	1
Career Creativity	Pearson	20	5	1
Customer Service	WJEC	20	7	0
Customer Service	Pearson	20	6	0
Enterprise Venture	WJEC	20	5	3
Enterprise Venture	Pearson	20	4	4
Exploring Career Pathways	WJEC	20	6	1
Exploring Career Pathways	Pearson	20	4	2
Fairness and Inclusion in the Workplace	WJEC	20	6	0
Fairness and Inclusion in the Workplace	Pearson	10	5	0
International Language: Education and Employment (Spoken)	WJEC	10	7	1
International Language: Education and Employment (Written)	WJEC	10	7	1
Interview and Confidence Techniques	WJEC	20	6	1
Interview and Confidence Techniques	Pearson	20	6	1
Jobs of the Future	WJEC	20	5	1
Jobs of the Future	Pearson	10	4	2
Overcoming Barriers	WJEC	10	4	1
Overcoming Barriers	Pearson	10	4	1
Personal Development Planning	WJEC	20	4	2
Personal Development Planning	Pearson	20	5	3
Rights and Responsibilities in the Workplace	WJEC	20	6	1
Rights and Responsibilities in the Workplace	Pearson	10	4	0
Sustainable Economic Development	WJEC	20	5	3
Sustainable Economic Development	Pearson	20	4	2
Understanding the Changing Labour Market	WJEC	20	5	1
Understanding the Changing Labour Market	Pearson	10	3	1
Using IT in the Workplace	WJEC	20	5	1
Using IT in the Workplace	Pearson	10	3	0
Wellbeing and Work	WJEC	20	5	1
Wellbeing and Work	Pearson	10	4	0
Work Experience	WJEC	20	5	1
Work Experience	Pearson	20	4	2
Working in Wales	WJEC	10	5	1
Working in Wales	Pearson	10	3	0

Personal Project

Personal Project

WJEC, Entry Level

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 6, numeracy skills: 1

Amount of literacy work: Medium

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Personal Project

WJEC, Level 1 and Level 2

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 6, numeracy skills: 2

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low
Personal Project

RSL Awards, Entry Level 1 to Level 2

First taught September 2027

Literacy skills: 6, numeracy skills: 4

Amount of literacy work: High

Amount of numeracy work: Low

Or choose a part of the LNF

The LNF has a literacy framework and a numeracy framework. Each is split into strands, and each strand into elements. Open an element to see the qualifications that use it.