Skills for Life: Art and Crafts
Arts and crafts is a 20 hour Skills for Life unit, offered from Entry 1 to Level 2, in which learners explore what art and craft is, express ideas or feelings through their work, and choose and use materials, tools and techniques safely. It is one unit that learners combine with others into a Skills for Life or Skills for Life and Work Award, Certificate or Diploma. Literacy runs through the criteria: describing and comparing art forms, using the right terminology at Level 2, presenting ideas, explaining how work meets its purpose and analysing choices. Numeracy is light, limited to the language of shape, pattern and form.
- Awarding body
- WJEC
- Level
- Entry Level 1 to Level 2
- Guided learning hours
- 20
- First taught
- September 2027
- Amount of literacy work
- Medium
- Amount of numeracy work
- Low
How this unit is assessed
- Entry Level (Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3): Three learning outcomes (know what art and craft is, express simple ideas or feelings through art and craft, use basic materials and tools to create a simple piece of work), with evidence compiled into a portfolio, internally assessed by the centre and externally quality assured by WJEC, 20 guided learning hours, unit codes S601E1, S601E2 and S601E3
- Level 1 and Level 2: Three learning outcomes (know the key characteristics of art and craft, develop and express ideas or feelings through art and craft, select and use suitable materials, tools and techniques to create a piece of work), with evidence compiled into a portfolio, internally assessed by the centre and externally quality assured by WJEC, 20 guided learning hours, unit codes S601L1 and S601L2
Skills that use Purpose
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Presenting ideas and explaining how work meets its purpose
Learners present ideas or feelings for their work at Entry 2 and Level 1, describe how their work shows the idea at Entry 3, and describe (Level 1) or explain (Level 2) how the finished work will meet its intended purpose. Evidence can be a short verbal explanation, an audio recording or a written description, and these are assessment criteria.
Literacy: Purpose, Planning and organising for different purposes, audiences and context
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils show their mood painting to a partner and say which colours they used to show the feeling.
- Year 8
- Pupils give a one minute talk to the class about their design for a greetings card, saying who it is for and how the design suits them.
- Year 9
- Pupils write an artist's statement for a finished piece explaining their intention and how the materials and techniques help it meet its purpose.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Entry Level, learning outcome 2, assessment criteria 2.1 and 2.2, page 5; Level 1 and Level 2, learning outcome 2, assessment criteria 2.1 and 2.3, page 6; Sources of evidence, page 11
“Explain how the finished work will meet their intended purpose”
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 organise talk so that different audiences in different contexts can follow what is being said, including using formal language.
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 adapt my writing style, choosing and using the best structures for different contexts and purposes, e.g. to successfully describe, explain, persuade, discuss.
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Analysing and evaluating choices
At Level 2 learners analyse the choice of materials, tools and techniques they selected, and the amplification includes modifying or refining work and justifying choices. Reflection logs or discussion notes on what worked well and what could be improved are suggested evidence. The analysis is an assessment criterion at Level 2.
Literacy: Planning and organising for different purposes, audiences and context, Proofreading, editing and improving, Purpose
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils say one thing that worked and one thing they would change about their finished drawing.
- Year 8
- Pupils write a short review of their print comparing two inks they tested and saying which gave the better result.
- Year 9
- Pupils write an evaluation explaining why they chose each material and tool for their sculpture, with one change they would make and the reason.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Level 1 and Level 2, learning outcome 3, assessment criterion 3.2, page 7; Amplification, learning outcome 3, page 10; Sources of evidence, page 11
“Analyse the choice of materials, tools and techniques selected”
Progression step 3
I can write about my thoughts, feelings and opinions, showing empathy and respect.
I can reflect on, edit and redraft to improve the quality of my expression, and use a range of strategies to ensure greater clarity.
Progression step 4
I can use summary, discussion of issues, detailed explanations and logic when covering a topic.
I can share, talk and write about my thoughts, feelings and opinions showing empathy and respect.
Good to know
- The unit codes are "S601E1", "S601E2", "S601E3", "S601L1" and "S601L2", and the unit is 20 GLH in the Skills for Life suite (Unit overview, page 3).
- Spelling is not assessed and long writing is not needed: "extended written work is not required unless appropriate" and judgements should focus on the standard "not spelling or presentation unless specifically assessed" (Sources of evidence, page 11).
- Spoken evidence counts: sources include a "short verbal explanation, audio recording, or written description of the work" and "presentation of work to peers" (Sources of evidence, page 11).
- Appendix A of the specification maps this unit to literacy and digital competence but not numeracy (Specification Appendix A, page 28).
- AI tools can be used "When properly referenced", but "Copying or paraphrasing whole responses of AI-generated content" is AI misuse (Specification section 4.6, page 21).
- Suggested assessment tasks are provided in each pack but "These tasks are not mandatory" (Specification section 4.1, page 18).
Links with other qualifications
The describing, comparing and evaluating in this unit match the annotation and evaluation in GCSE Art and Design, and the pack also names the VCSE in Creative and Media Production and Technology and the Foundation qualifications in Expressive Arts, Design and Technology, and Creative and Media Production and Technology. Talking about ideas and using technical vocabulary build on GCSE English Language and Literature. Within the Skills Suite, the pack suggests delivering it alongside Digital film and media, Equality, diversity and inclusion, Ethical choices, Community participation and Sustainability in action.
Source: WJEC Arts and crafts unit delivery and assessment pack, read with the WJEC Entry 1 to Level 2 Skills for Life and Skills for Work specification, approved by Qualifications Wales, teaching from September 2027 (© WJEC CBAC Ltd 2026).