Skills for Life: Faith and Belief in the Community
Faith and belief in the community is a 20 hour Skills for Life unit, one of the units learners combine into a Skills for Life or Skills for Work Award, Certificate or Diploma at Entry Level or Level 1 and 2. Learners find out what faith and belief mean, how beliefs are expressed in the community and how belief affects people and society. Literacy runs through every criterion: naming and giving examples at Entry Level, then defining, describing, explaining, comparing, discussing and evaluating at Levels 1 and 2, in speech or writing. Numeracy is light and optional, limited to a suggested survey or map of local places of worship.
- 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 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: Three learning outcomes 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 Vocabulary, spelling, grammar
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Using the vocabulary of faith and belief
Learners name a faith, a symbol and a place of worship at Entry 1 and give key features at Entry 2 and 3. At Level 1 they define faith and belief with an example of each, and at Level 2 they distinguish religious, moral and personal beliefs, using terms the amplification sets out such as gurdwara, synagogue, imam and Humanism.
Literacy: Clarity and vocabulary, Vocabulary, spelling, grammar
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils match cards naming six places of worship, leaders and symbols to the right faith, then use three of the words in their own sentences.
- Year 8
- Pupils write one sentence definitions of faith, belief, worship and festival and use each word correctly when explaining a photo of a local place of worship.
- Year 9
- Pupils sort statements into religious, moral and personal beliefs and write a short paragraph explaining the difference, using the correct terms.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Level 1 and Level 2, learning outcome 1, assessment criteria L1 1.1 and L2 1.1, page 6; Entry Level, learning outcome 1, page 5; amplification of LO1, page 8
“Define the terms 'faith' and 'belief', giving one example of each.”
Progression step 3
I can express issues and ideas clearly using area of learning and experience/discipline-specific vocabulary and examples.
I can use varied, appropriate and precise vocabulary including area of learning and experience/discipline-specific words for different purposes.
Progression step 4
I have experienced a range of area of learning and experience/discipline-specific and general academic vocabulary, and can use them in my own communication.
I have experienced a range of area of learning and experience/discipline-specific and general academic vocabulary, and can use them in my own communication.
Good to know
- The unit codes are S611E1, S611E2, S611E3, S611L1 and S611L2, and the unit is 20 guided learning hours (Unit overview, page 3).
- Spoken evidence counts: "extended written work is not required unless appropriate", and assessor judgements should not focus on spelling or presentation unless specifically assessed (Sources of evidence, page 10).
- A plural in a criterion means at least two: "If not specified, then a plural reference within assessment criterion refers to a minimum of two." (pages 5 and 6).
- Suggested assessment tasks are optional: "These tasks are not mandatory." Teachers may adapt them or devise their own (Specification section 4.1, page 18). No specific resources are needed for assessment (page 12).
- AI use must be acknowledged. Misuse includes "Using AI to complete parts of the assessment so that the work does not reflect the learner's own work, analysis, evaluation or calculations." (Specification section 4.6, page 21).
- Appendix A of the specification (page 28) maps this unit to literacy, but not to numeracy, although the unit overview says numeracy "can be embedded through data collection and analysis" (page 4).
Links with other qualifications
The pack names GCSE Religious Studies as a linked WJEC qualification. Both ask learners to explain beliefs, compare how faiths and non-religious worldviews such as Humanism express them, and discuss the impact of belief on people and society, so the unit gives useful practice in explaining and discussing at a lower level. Ethical choices; Equality, diversity and inclusion; Understanding self and others; and Values for life are the closely related Skills for Life units the pack suggests delivering alongside it, and they share the same discussion and reflection work.
Source: WJEC Faith and belief in the community 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).