What is a Diploma?

Diplomas are new qualifications for 14 to 19-year-olds which help prepare them in an innovative and exciting way for university or employment.

All Diploma students study English, Maths and ICT alongside their chosen discipline. They do an extended project, specialist learning in a related subject and at least ten days work experience.

These qualifications have been developed by employers, so practical, work-related learning is at the heart of the qualification. They will be delivered by consortia of schools and colleges, rather than one institution in isolation.

Diplomas are available at three levels:

Foundation (equivalent to 5 GCSEs)
Higher (equivalent to 7 GCSEs)
Advanced (equivalent to 3.5 A Levels)

Diplomas are offered in the following lines:

From September 2008
Construction and the Built Environment
Creative and Media
Engineering
Information Technology
Society, Health and Development

From September 2009
Business, Administration and Finance
Environmental and Land-Based Studies
Hair and Beauty Studies
Hospitality
Manufacturing and Product Design

From September 2010
Public Services
Retail
Sport and Leisure
Travel and Tourism

From September 2011
Science
Languages
Humanities

Employer engagement is critical to the success of the Diplomas.

Employers can:

• Help design curriculum at a national level;
• Give talks and lectures to enrich the curriculum with real business input;
• Use materials which will raise the company profile;
• Set actual business problems for students to solve in their projects;
• Provide resources, equipment and use of premises;
• Offer work experience placements for students with learning outcomes that will provide direct support with the diploma; (There is a 10 day minimum at each level.)
• Provide professional development placement opportunities (PDPs) for teachers;
• Offer guided visits around their premises, which will help students to understand the workplace better.

In addition, industry or activity days in school give the opportunity to take part in an exciting business challenge in school.

Work shadowing can be a valuable alternative to work experience where the work is too complicated or unsuitable for students to get hands on.

Mentoring can benefit both students and teachers through an organised and planned programme of support. See WRL Mentoring for further details of available programmes.

EBPOs are here to help and support at all stages of this process including assisting consortia with employer engagement strategies. IEBE is also running a consultancy service to support consortia under a contract with DCSF.

During the introduction of the Diplomas there may be queries about how the new system operates. To help answer some of the points, DCSF has produced a guide to the Myths and Truths which appears below.

Please click here for a short video clip featuring Gillian Morris, Diploma Employer Champion, who owns a small business in Leicestershire.