14-19 Diplomas as Routes to HE

LEAD ORGANISATION

Progress South Central

PROJECT SUMMARY

In spring 2010, Progress South Central ran three lunchtime seminars in order to help staff at the University engage with the new 14-19 Diplomas as potential progression routes to HE. The sessions were open to any member of University of Reading staff but were thought to be of particular interest to anyone working in admissions. The seminars were designed to fit into a one hour lunchtime slot, with a buffet lunch supplied.

A total of 17 members of staff attended the seminars, with the first seminar on What are the 14-19 Diplomas? being the most popular. Staff attending included admissions tutors and those working in student recruitment and outreach.

Session 1   What are the 14-19 Diplomas?
This first session, presented by Haidar Kattan, started with a general look at 14-19 educational reform and then moved on to look at the purpose of the Diplomas and an example of the Diploma model. The session finished with a look at some of the potential issues as regards HE.

Session 2   The Extended Project and how it benefits both students and higher education
The second session, presented by Paul Bowers Isaacson, was an introduction to the Extended Project Qualification. The presentation looked at how the qualification is broken down and assessed and showed a few examples of Extended Project work. The session finished with a look at what is known about how the HE sector is using the EPQ.

Session 3   How can the University support progression from the 14-19 Diplomas?
The final session, led by Anthony Keeble, the University's Admissions Officer, was an opportunity for some round-table discussion of Diplomas. There was a chance to discuss current application levels and to look at how to support Diploma applications and students in the future.

IMPACT

Only the first two sessions were evaluated, but all those attending indicated that they had found the sessions interesting and the quality of the presentation and handouts good. Those attending fed back that they were clearer at least to some extent about the new Diplomas and much clearer about the Extended Project.

Issues that emerged from the sessions:

• There had been some difficulties in ascertaining the exact make-up of each Diploma and issues around detail in the UCAS application process. Progress South Central hopes to run an event for IAG staff, based around these issues.
• Initially only small numbers of applications from Diploma students are expected and only in a small number of subjects. These areas are more aware of the qualification than in other departments however most people felt they knew where to get more information if needed and felt supported by the admissions team.
• The possibility of a brief and concise information pack for people working with admissions was welcomed, but would need to be kept to the point. Having regular updates would allow information to be drip fed through departments.