Government details plans for Diplomas

Citation

(2006), "Government details plans for Diplomas", Education + Training, Vol. 48 No. 8/9. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2006.00448hab.002

Government details plans for Diplomas

The Government has set out detailed plans for the delivery of Diplomas – the new qualifications that will increase the choices available to 14-19 year olds. Robotics, aerospace engineering, electrical installation, graphic design, nutrition and health and computer programming are among the topics students pursuing Diplomas might be expected to study in the future. Combining academic and applied learning, specialised Diplomas will offer students a new way to learn and provide employers and higher education with the knowledge, skills and capabilities needed to make the country more competitive.

Diplomas will begin to be available from 2008 in five subjects – construction and the built environment, information technology, creative and media, health and social care, and engineering. The learning outcomes of the Diplomas are the result of a partnership between educators, employers and universities working together. The partners have agreed the broad scope of what the first five Diplomas will cover, what young people will study and the kind of knowledge, skills and understanding they will be expected to demonstrate at each of the three levels at which the Diplomas will be available.

Welcoming the publication of the first Diploma contents and learning outcomes, School Minister Jim Knight said: “A growing sense of momentum is building within schools and colleges that are keen to get on with delivering reforms. The Diplomas will offer all students a real alternative to the traditional route and it is extremely encouraging that every single area of the country has already expressed an interest in offering the Diplomas when they are ready for teaching in 2008. In the past, work-related learning has been developed in isolation of business. We have broken that mould and are clear that partnership is the key to success.”

By 2013, a total of 14 subjects will be available, and the Education Bill provides an entitlement for all young people, aged 14 to 19, to study any of them. Every Diploma will include generic learning including English, mathematics, information-technology user skills, a project, personal learning and thinking skills, and work experience. This will be supplemented by specific learning relevant to the course subject – in, for example, graphic design or maintenance engineering. Finally, additional and specialist learning will enable young people to tailor the course to meet their particular aspirations and interests with complementary learning – perhaps in languages, music or art – or with specialist learning giving them a more detailed knowledge about the subject area.