Introduction to Diplomas
Wednesday 31 October 2007
Diplomas are the new qualifications for 14-19 year olds. Whether you’ve got a career in mind, hope to go to university or just want to see what’s out there, a Diploma is the perfect way to explore your options.
What is a Diploma?
It’s a new qualification for 14 to 19 year olds and offers a mix of classroom learning, creative thinking and real work experience - all designed to prepare you for wherever you want to go in life. Increasingly both e mployers and universities are looking to recruit people that have this mixture of skills.
Diplomas are designed to help you gain life skills such as team working and self management – the kind of skills that you need not only in your work but in every day life too.
Some of the skills you learn may be taught in a work-like context, so that you can see how useful and important they are in these situations.
When will Diplomas start?
The first five Diplomas will be taught in schools and colleges from September 2008. There will be up to 40,000 Diploma places in over 1,300 selected schools and colleges in England .
Another five will be launched in September 2009.These will be Environmental and Land based Studies, Business, Administration and Finance, Manufacturing and Product Design, Hospitality and Catering and Hair and Beauty.
A further four will be available from September 2010. These subject areas will be Travel and Tourism, Public Services, Sport and Leisure and Retail.
A further three Diplomas will be available in 2011. These subject areas will be Science, Languages and the Humanities.
In total, there will be 1 7 subject areas to choose from.
How will they work?
There are three levels of Diploma that start in Year 10 or 12 or above.
Starting in Year 10 or 12 –
- The Foundation Diploma - taking around the same time to do as four or five GCSEs.
- The Higher Diploma - taking around the same time to do as five or six GCSEs.
Starting in Year 12 or above -
- The Advanced Diploma - taking around the same time to do as three A levels.
- A Progression Diploma- taking around the same time to do as two A levels ; a good option if you decide that you can’t complete a whole Advanced Diploma.
Studying a Diploma will mean that you can use your experiences to make future career or study choices. At the end, you’ll have a better idea of what you want to do next and how a Diploma course can help you get there – whether that’s employment, university, college or another study route.
Does everyone pass?
To get a Diploma you will need to achieve a minimum standard in English, Maths and ICT – otherwise known as ‘functional skills’.
In Years 10 and 11 you will probably be studying these functional skills anyway, as part of your normal lessons. They don't replace the Maths and English GCSE. But you won’t have to do functional skills twice because when you do them alongside your GCSE, they will also count towards your Diploma.
What happens after?
Foundation and Higher Diploma students can study for the next level of Diploma, or take a different type of qualification such as GCSEs, A levels, an Advanced Apprenticeship, a BTEC or an NVQ. You can also choose to go into the workplace.
If you’re not sure where you want to go next in your education or career choices, Diplomas offer a great option that combine learning with work and real experience.
To find out what Diploma courses are available near you take a look at the Diplomas website.
