LNF Cymru Literacy and numeracy for Wales

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Foundation Expressive Arts

Foundation Expressive Arts is a 120 hour, all coursework qualification for learners aged 14 to 16 working at Entry Level and Level 1, covering Art and Design, Drama, Dance, Music, and Digital Media and Film. Literacy sits mainly in reflection, worth 30% of the marks: in Unit 1 learners discuss and evaluate two works, justifying opinions with evidence and subject vocabulary, and in Unit 2 they keep a reflective log on their own piece. Both can be spoken or written. Drama performance adds voice and character work. Numeracy is light and practical: rhythm, tempo and timing in music and dance, space and position in dance and staging, and shape and composition in art, with Appendix B mapping numeracy to Units 2 and 3 only.

Awarding body
WJEC
Level
Entry Level and Level 1
First taught
September 2027
Amount of literacy work
Medium
Amount of numeracy work
Low
Specification
Open the specification
How this qualification is assessed
  • Unit 1: Discovering the work of others: Non-examination assessment (three reflective tasks on two works from two art forms), maximum 6 hours, 25%, 25 marks, set and marked by WJEC, no prescribed format, first assessed Summer 2028
  • Unit 2: Developing my own ideas: Non-examination assessment (practical piece in response to a WJEC stimulus and a reflective log), 25%, 25 marks, set by WJEC, marked by the centre and moderated by WJEC, first assessed Summer 2028
  • Unit 3: Showcasing my skills: Non-examination assessment (practical assessment, two pieces or performances from the same or different art forms), 50%, 40 marks, set by WJEC, marked by the centre and moderated by WJEC, first assessed Summer 2029

Skills that use Purpose

  1. Evaluating works and justifying opinions with evidence

    Assessed: In coursework (non-examination assessment, NEA)

    Learners evaluate and reflect on the creative choices in their selected works: the mood, what they like and dislike and how the work makes them feel. They justify their opinions using evidence from the work, which is the core of the Unit 1 marks.

    Literacy: Purpose, Planning and organising for different purposes, audiences and context

    Getting pupils ready

    Year 7
    Pupils say whether they like a short piece of music and give one reason that points to something they heard, such as a fast tempo.
    Year 8
    Pupils write a paragraph on how a painting makes them feel, using a point, evidence and explanation frame.
    Year 9
    Pupils evaluate a professional performance in a short piece of writing or a recording, giving what worked and what did not, each backed by a specific moment from the work.
    Show the specification wording and the LNF statements

    Where it is in the specification: Unit 1, Section 1.1.3, page 11; Summary of assessment, page 5; Section 3.1, page 17

    “Learners should be able to justify their opinion using evidence from the expressive arts work.”
    Progression step 3

    • I can share, talk and write about my thoughts, feelings and opinions using a range of techniques to show impact.

    • I can write about my thoughts, feelings and opinions, showing empathy and respect.

    Progression step 4

    • I can share, talk and write about my thoughts, feelings and opinions showing empathy and respect.

    • I can use summary, discussion of issues, detailed explanations and logic when covering a topic.

    • I can write about my thoughts, feelings and opinions, using a range of techniques, e.g. emotive language, hyperbole, choice of pronouns (you, we), to show impact.

  2. Speaking to present a response

    Assessed: In coursework (non-examination assessment, NEA)

    Because there is no prescribed format, many learners present Unit 1 and Unit 2 as an audio presentation, vlog or narrated slides. They need to speak clearly, organise what they say for the listener and explain their views on the works and their own choices.

    Literacy: Clarity and vocabulary, Purpose

    Getting pupils ready

    Year 7
    Pupils talk for one minute to a partner about an artwork they chose, using a prompt card with three headings.
    Year 8
    Pupils record a two minute audio talk about a song, then listen back and re-record one section more clearly.
    Year 9
    Pupils give a three minute presentation to the class on two contrasting works, organised with an introduction, a section on each work and a conclusion.
    Show the specification wording and the LNF statements

    Where it is in the specification: Section 3.2, Units 1 and 2, page 18; Appendix B, page 29

    “There is no prescribed format for this work.”
    Progression step 3

    • I can speak clearly, recognising the appropriate language for different audiences and purposes, and varying my expression, vocabulary, tone and gestures to engage the audience.

    • I can organise talk so that different audiences in different contexts can follow what is being said, including using formal language.

    Progression step 4

    • I can speak clearly, selecting and adapting my language appropriately for a range of audiences and purposes, conveying meaning effectively to the audience.

    • I can reflect on my use of strategies to improve the quality, accuracy and effects of my spoken communication, including in formal situations.

Good to know

Links with other qualifications

There is no GCSE Expressive Arts; the specification says it gives "a broad basis for progression onto GCSE qualifications in the Expressive Arts area" (page 7). Its five art forms match GCSE Art and Design, GCSE Drama, GCSE Dance, GCSE Music and GCSE Digital Media and Film, which all use subject vocabulary, analysis of other people's work, reflective logs and spoken feedback, but add written examinations with extended answers. The rhythm, tempo, staging and scale work links with the counts and timing in GCSE Dance and GCSE Music and the ground plans in GCSE Drama, and supports GCSE English Language and Literature through evaluative writing and talk.

Source: WJEC Entry Level/Level 1 Foundation Expressive Arts specification, approved by Qualifications Wales, teaching from September 2027, for award from 2029 (© WJEC CBAC Ltd 2026).