"It will embed fundamental study and thinking skills in young people"
"Diplomas contain the knowledge and skills needed for a head start in business life"
In 2008 a new qualification for 14 to 19-year-olds, at three levels, will be available – The Diploma. The first schools and colleges will be offering Diplomas in September 2008. These are in Construction and the Built Environment, Creative and Media, Engineering, Information Technology, and Society, Health and Development. By 2011 all 17 Diploma subjects will be available in areas across the country.
The Diploma will help your child develop work-relevant skills, as well as English, maths and ICT, in a creative and enjoyable way. It will appeal to students who like practical subjects to which they can relate. It’s flexible, so students can get a deeper knowledge of subjects that they are particularly interested in and broaden their study perhaps including a language. Your child could take GCSEs or A levels as part of their Diploma course, and alongside it.
What’s important is that The Diploma does not restrict future options - it will help your child make decisions about what they want to do next. Foundation and Higher Diploma students can go on to study for the next level of Diploma, take a different type of qualification such as GCSE, A level or Apprenticeship, or go on to a job with training. An Advanced Diploma can lead on to university or into a career.
Diploma students will have gained the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to go on to employment, college or university. The qualification will be valued by employers and universities, because they helped design them to ensure young people have all the skills they need. Universities will regard the Advanced Diploma as broadly equivalent to three A levels.
2. How will your son/daughter benefit from a Diploma?
Diplomas combine theoretical study in the classroom with practical experience, in a variety of different learning environments. They help students develop skills that are highly valued by employers and universities, and get a deeper knowledge of subjects they are particularly interested in. Providing the best of both worlds, it bridges the gap between academic learning and vocational options - giving your child an insight into what occupation, future training or learning they may wish to take up. They will also learn better personal skills such as the ability to communicate and work in teams, and develop functional skills in English, maths and ICT, in a creative and enjoyable way.
Learning about a chosen subject will help students make decisions about their future career. They will acquire transferable skills that any employer, in any sector, would recognise. Diploma students will also gain the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to go on to college, university and other further study or training courses.
3. What's available now?
The Diploma contains learning around 17 broad subject areas. Starting in 2008, there will be five subjects: Construction and the Built Environment Creative and Media Engineering Information Technology Society, Health and Development.
By 2011 all 17 Diploma subjects will be available to all young people. They include Environmental and Land-based Studies; Business, Administration and Finance; Manufacturing and Product Design; Hospitality; Hair and Beauty Studies; Travel and Tourism; Public Services; Sport and Leisure; Retail; Science; Languages and Humanities. Initially, selected schools and colleges will be teaching some or all of the Diploma courses but they will become more widely available every year.
Every Diploma student must complete a number of compulsory and optional elements.
Compulsory elements
Compulsory subjects in the Diploma cover the core elements of the chosen discipline. For example, in an Engineering Diploma there are three principal learning themes:
Options
Alongside the core curriculum, Diploma students can choose from a range of optional subjects. For example, a student studying for a Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment might choose to take a more specialist course in Surveying, or Community Management and Regeneration. Or they could choose to make their course broader by studying a different subject like a language.
In addition to these course elements, students will spend at least 10 days working with an employer. They will complete a project to find out about a topic that interests them and to demonstrate that they have understood what they have learned.
4. How does your son/daughter choose which Diploma to take?
There are three levels of Diploma. The Foundation Diploma is a level 1 qualification. It is equivalent to five GCSEs grade D to G. The Higher Diploma is a level 2 qualification. It is equivalent to seven GCSEs grade A* to C.
The Advanced Diploma is a level 3 qualification. It is equivalent to three and a half A levels.
A Progression Diploma will also be available, which is equivalent to two and a half A levels. This will suit students who do not wish to complete a whole Advanced Diploma.
5. How does it fit into the existing Curriculum?
Students who choose to do a Diploma can do it instead of GCSEs or A levels, or include some GCSEs and A levels in their Diploma programme.
6. What happens after your son/daughter finishes their Diploma?
Foundation and Higher Diploma students can continue with their education or take their new skills into a job that offers further training. They can study for the next level of Diploma, or take a different type of qualification such as GCSEs, A levels, or Apprenticeships.
An Advanced Diploma can lead on university or into a career.
7. Will the Diploma be valued by employers?
Diplomas were developed with employers, to help meet the needs of business. Young people will get the skills, knowledge and understanding they need to do well at work. Employers benefit from a wider pool of better qualified recruits who understand their business or industry.
Sir Alan Jones, Chairman Emeritus of Toyota Manufacturing UK Ltd and Chairman of SEMTA, the Sector Skills Council for Engineering"Starting out in the business world can be tough, but Diplomas provide young people with the knowledge and skills they need to get a head start."
8. Will the Diploma be accepted by universities?
Universities will regard the Advanced Diploma as equivalent to three and a half A levels. With Diploma students, colleges and universities know they should have the kind of knowledge and skills they are looking for, both for relevant degree subjects and for higher level study more generally.
Professor Michael Arthur, Vice Chancellor, University of Leeds"Diplomas increase the range of qualifications that young people have available to them. Young people studying the Diploma will gain skills that are valuable for university and for their future."
9. How to find out more information
You can get more information from your son or daughter's school, Directgov and the DCSF website.
