Skills for Life: Democracy In Action
Democracy in action is a 20 hour Skills for Life unit about who makes decisions locally and nationally in Wales, how people can have their say, and how to research, debate and decide on a political or local issue. It is one unit that learners combine with others into a Skills for Life or Skills for Work Award, Certificate or Diploma, from Entry 1 to Level 2. Literacy demand is high: every level requires discussion or debate, and Level 1 and Level 2 add reading source material, presenting an argument and justifying a decision. Numeracy is light and optional, mainly surveys and mock election results.
- Awarding body
- WJEC
- Level
- Entry Level 1 to Level 2
- Guided learning hours
- 20
- First taught
- September 2027
- Amount of literacy work
- High
- Amount of numeracy work
- Low
How this unit is assessed
- Entry Level (Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3): Three learning outcomes (decision makers who represent others, ways people share their views, taking part in a group discussion or debate) with assessment criteria at Entry 1, Entry 2 and Entry 3. Evidence goes in a portfolio, internally assessed by the centre and externally quality assured by WJEC. 20 guided learning hours.
- Level 1 and Level 2: Four learning outcomes (what democracy means, how people participate, researching, presenting and discussing viewpoints on an issue, making an informed decision) with assessment criteria at Level 1 and Level 2. Evidence goes in a portfolio, internally assessed by the centre and externally quality assured by WJEC. 20 guided learning hours.
Skills that use Collecting data
-
Using surveys and vote results
Numeracy is light in this unit. The pack suggests a simple survey on a local issue at Entry Level and analysing mock election results at Level 1 and Level 2, and the amplification mentions using evidence and data, but no assessment criterion requires calculation or graphs.
Numeracy: Collecting data, Interpreting data
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils tally class votes on a school issue and draw a bar chart of the results.
- Year 8
- Pupils design a five question survey on a local issue, collect 20 responses and work out the percentage for each answer.
- Year 9
- Pupils compare the results of a mock election by year group, work out turnout as a percentage and discuss whether the result really shows what the school thinks.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Suggested activities, page 9; amplification of learning outcome 4, page 9
“Create a simple survey on a local issue and share findings with the class.”
Progression step 3
I can collect relevant data to answer posed questions.
I can draw conclusions from data and recognise that some conclusions may be misleading or uncertain.
Progression step 4
I can collect own data for a survey, e.g. through designing a questionnaire.
I can draw conclusions from data and recognise that some conclusions may be misleading or uncertain.
Good to know
- Unit codes run from Entry 1 to Level 2: "S605E1" to "S605L2", and the unit is 20 guided learning hours (Unit overview, page 3).
- Spoken evidence counts. The pack says evidence "may be verbal, written, practical, or visual" and extended written work "is not required unless appropriate" (Sources of evidence, page 10).
- Assessors judge the criteria, not accuracy of writing: judgements "should focus on meeting the standard, not spelling or presentation unless specifically assessed" (Sources of evidence, page 10).
- Debates can be filmed for the portfolio: the pack lists "Audio or video recordings" of debates, role plays or interviews and "Learner observation records" (Sources of evidence, page 10).
- Suggested activities and assessment tasks are optional: the specification says "These tasks are not mandatory" (section 4.1, page 18).
- AI tools must be acknowledged. "Copying or paraphrasing whole responses of AI-generated content" is listed as AI misuse (Specification section 4.6, page 21).
Links with other qualifications
The pack names links with GCSE Social Studies and GCSE History, and the work on Senedd and council decisions, rights and civic participation also sits close to the Social Studies and History units of Foundation Humanities. The debate, viewpoint and source reading work overlaps with spoken language, persuasive writing and reading non-fiction in GCSE English Language and Literature. Within the Skills Suite the pack suggests delivering it alongside Community participation, Equality, diversity, and inclusion, Ethical choices, Everyday law, Values for life, Fairness and inclusion in the workplace, Rights and responsibilities in the workplace, Exploring career pathways and Working in Wales.
Source: WJEC Democracy in action 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).