Curriculum for Wales Formative Evaluation

Tender description

The Welsh Government seeks to contract for a formative evaluation of the Curriculum for Wales which will provide us with the broad qualitative and quantitative picture of how the reforms are working, how practice is changing and how these changes are being experienced by practitioners, learners and their families. Each year it will include a limited number deep dive investigations to give us a more detailed understanding of specific priority curriculum elements or parts of the system. Lot 1: Curriculum for Wales is the cornerstone of the Welsh Government’s efforts to reform education in Wales and build an education system that raises educational standards and enjoys public confidence. The four purposes of the curriculum are the starting point and aspiration for every child and young person in Wales. Under the reforms each school is developing its own curriculum, supported by national guidance, which will enable learners to embody the four purposes of the curriculum. The Navigating the Curriculum for Wales Framework sets out the basic structure of the Curriculum for Wales. The Client wishes to commission a formative evaluation of Curriculum for Wales to understand the extent to which the reforms are working as we want and expect. The specification sets out the requirements for the evaluation and suggestions for the method, but bidders are encouraged to propose alternative methods for meeting the objectives of work within the available budget and timescale. The Scoping study for the evaluation of the curriculum and assessment reforms in Wales: final report published in July 2022 developed recommendations for a robust monitoring and evaluation programme. A Curriculum for Wales (CfW) Evaluation Plan was published on 3 July 2023. It describes the shape and purpose of the formative evaluation in the context of the overall evaluation programme.. The total contract value stated includes GBP 1,400,000 for the initial contract term of 35 months and GBP 850,000 for the optional 18 months extension period.