PGW or WorkSkills — which should we run?
Both are Pearson BTECs at Level 1 and Level 2. Both are assessed on completed workbooks, with no exam. The difference is what they are about.
Either can run as an alternative pathway alongside GCSEs at Key Stage 4, or as part of a more personalised curriculum — the size you choose decides how much of the timetable it takes.
The short answer
Personal Growth and Wellbeing is about the person. WorkSkills is about work.
If you are looking for something to fill PSHE, RSE or wellbeing time, choose PGW. If you are covering careers, employability and preparation for the world of work, choose WorkSkills. Plenty of centres run both — typically one in each year group, rather than both to the same class.
Everything else is close to identical: same awarding organisation, same two levels, same GCSE equivalency, no exam in either, and the same training and IQA support behind both.
Side by side
Everything a head of department usually asks, in one place.
| Personal Growth & Wellbeing | WorkSkills | |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | Physical, emotional, social and sexual health; personal identity; environmental awareness; financial awareness; setting goals | Teamwork, job applications, project planning, being entrepreneurial and career progression |
| Who it is for | Secondary students | Students aged 14 and over |
| Levels | Level 1 and Level 2 | Level 1 and Level 2 |
| Books in a set | Eight | Six |
| Unit choice | The number of units is set by the size you choose | No compulsory units — any combination, one up to all six |
| Qualification sizes | Subsidiary Award, Award, Certificate, Extended Certificate | Subsidiary Award, Award, Certificate — plus a Foundation Certificate in Wales and an Extended Award in England |
| Guided learning hours | 24 to 210 | 35 to 210 |
| GCSE equivalency | 0.25 to 2 GCSEs | 0.25 to 2 GCSEs |
| Exam | None | None |
| Available in Welsh | Yes — Welsh and English | No — English only |
| Digital version | Yes — the e-Sweet online course | No |
| Awarded by | Pearson | Pearson |
Qualification codes, performance points and the full size tables are on each course page.
Choose PGW if
You need to fill PS(H)E, RSE or wellbeing time with something that accredits.
You want a Welsh-medium option, or a digital one.
Your priority is the pastoral curriculum — mental health, relationships, identity, money.
You want the widest choice of sizes, from a single 24-hour unit up to two GCSEs' worth.
Choose WorkSkills if
You are covering careers, employability or preparation for work.
You want to pick units freely — none of the six are compulsory.
You are working with Year 10 and above, in a school, college or alternative provision.
In England, you need something that supports the Gatsby benchmarks.
What each one costs
There are three costs to either course, and a centre pays all three. Registration is the largest of them, so the workbook price on its own is not the cost of running a cohort.
| Personal Growth & Wellbeing | WorkSkills | |
|---|---|---|
| Set of books | £27.76 (eight books) | £24.67 (six books) |
| Single book | £5.15 | £5.15 |
| Registration, per learner | £37.23 to £113.15, by size | £42.54 to £71.79, by size |
| Digital option | e-Sweet log in, £19.52 | — |
| Training, one-off | £283.00 for the first member of staff, £100.00 for each additional member. Compulsory for new centres — a 2–3 hour session over Microsoft Teams. | |
| Sample book | Free for both | |
Postage costs apply; collection from our Cardiff office is free. Orders are invoiced — you are never asked for card details.
Still deciding?
The things centres ask us when they are choosing between the two.
Can we run both?
Yes, and a number of centres do. The usual pattern is one course per year group rather than both to the same class — PGW lower down, WorkSkills as learners get closer to leaving. Training covers your centre, not a single course, so you do not pay for it twice.
Which is easier to timetable?
PGW, if you already have PS(H)E time — centres deliver it there, through core subjects including Maths and Science, or in option blocks. WorkSkills is more often timetabled against careers provision or in alternative provision.
We teach through the medium of Welsh. Does that decide it?
For now, yes. The PGW resources are available in Welsh and English at both levels, as printed workbooks or as the e-Sweet online course. The WorkSkills resources are currently English only.
Does either one carry more weight than the other?
No. Both are Pearson BTECs at Level 1 and Level 2, both are assessed on completed work with no exam, and both run from a quarter of a GCSE up to two GCSEs depending on the size you choose.
What happens to both under qualification reform in Wales?
Both continue in Wales until 2028 with existing cohorts, and final registrations for both are 31 July 2027. In England both are available until 2029. From September 2027 in Wales, Skills for Life and Skills for Work begin first teaching. More on Wave 3.
Got more questions?
Order a free sample of each and see them side by side.
Both sample books are free. If you would rather talk it through, your area contact can tell you what similar centres chose and why.