A PLAN to introduce vocational qualifications in Wales could increase teachers’ workloads, education unions have warned.

Under the proposal by Qualifications Wales, they would be introduced in 2027 and aimed at less academic pupils.

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) Cymru and NASUWT Cymru called on Tuesday for more details of the new qualifications and warned that non-exam elements such as coursework would increase teacher workloads.

NAHT Cymru’s Laura Doel said: “We welcome this new suite of qualifications, which will undoubtedly be of benefit to young people who thrive in vocational subjects. 

“However, there are concerns about the workload implications for schools and we need more detail about how teachers will assess the non-exam components of this new qualification.”

NASUWT Cymru national officer Neil Butler said: “We are against any extension of teacher assessment in qualifications because this is unpaid extra work and could make teachers vulnerable to exam malpractice allegations.”