The Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC) was established by a merger of local education authorities in 1948. WJEC is now owned and controlled by the 22 unitary councils in Wales. It provides a range of educational services including GCSE Short and Long Course Information Technology and A/AS-Level Computing.
The GCSE Full Course consists of both a Lower Tier (C-G) and Higher Tier (A*-D). The requirements of the higher tier include two 1 hour 30 minute written examinations worth 20% of the total mark each. Also, a portfolio of work and project which carry 30% each of the final mark. The portfolio is somewhat unique compared to syllabuses offered by the other boards and must cover and two themes from Communicating Information, Handling Information, Controlling and Measuring, and Modelling. The GCSE Short Course is again split into a higher and lower tier, with a 1 hour (1 hour 30 minute higher tier) written examination worth 40% of the total mark with practical tasks accounting for the remaining 60%
Just as the AEB, the WJEC offers A/AS-Level Computing as opposed to A/AS-Level Information Technology. A-Level Computing consists of four written examinations of 2 hours worth 17.5% of the total mark each. The remaining 30% is derived from 2 projects worth 15% each. In comparison, the AS-Level consists of 2 written examinations worth 35% each and lasting 2 hours, and 1 project worth 30% of the total mark.
The WJEC has a broad spectrum of support materials for its courses. As well as providing syllabuses and Inset training, additional documents in the form of advice to teachers and students are available. The WJEC has also become an advocate for the Welsh language in Welsh schools and colleges and supports this via the Curriculum Cymreig scheme. A well designed web site gives access to most the WJEC written resources and provides numerous contact details for subject areas and other related issues.