14-19 Diplomas

The availability of progression opportunities for 14-19 Diploma learners into higher education will be essential for learners and will play a crucial role in the Diplomas' success.

What is the Diploma?

• A new qualification that combines theoretical study with practical / work experience.
• Students are often taught within a consortia, or group of schools and colleges, rather than at one institution.
• Diplomas require achievement to a minimum standard in English, Maths and ICT, an extended project and completion of a minimum of 10 days' work experience.
• Students can still take other qualifications (eg A levels etc) as part of their diploma.

Diploma subject lines are being phased in over the next 3 years.

2008: ICT; Engineering; Society, Health & Development; Creative & Media; Construction and the Built Environment. (1st entry to HE 2010)
2009: Environmental & Land-based; Manufacturing; Hair & Beauty Studies; Business Administration & Finance; Hospitality. (1st entry to HE 2011)
2010: Public Services, Sport and Leisure, Retail, Travel & Tourism. (1st entry to HE 2012)
2011: Science; Humanities; Languages. (1st entry to HE 2013)

There are several components to the diploma framework, all of which must be passed for the student to be awarded the Diploma:

• Functional skills -students must demonstrate a functional level of ICT, Maths and literacy skills
• Principal learning -subject specialist learning which represents 720 guided learning hours
• Extended project -this can take the form of a dissertation or investigation of 5,000 words, or an artifact or field study and 1,500 essay or equivalent
• Additional specialist learning (advanced level) -equivalent in size to one A-level. These may be specialist units, taken from other qualifications eg BTECs or discrete qualifications eg an A level in a related subject
• Work experience -10 days
• Personal learning and thinking skills -assessed by the school or college.

For more information please visit the DCSF website. http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19/

Diploma Learning Lines

What is Progress South Central doing to support Diploma progression?

Progress South Central is putting in place a comprehensive programme of involvement with the 14-19 Diplomas in our region, with specific focus on progression to higher education.

As a result of a meeting convened in July 2009 with key diploma contacts from the region (including representatives from the HEIs, Aimhigher, FECs, Surrey EBP and 14-19 consortia leads), a Diploma Progress Programme for 2009/10 was drawn up which will support the development and delivery of 14-19 Diplomas as potential routes to higher education. This work will include:

• HE Days for Diploma students at two of our partner HEIs
• Invitations to relevant events at Universities for Diploma students
• Distribution of the free Surrey Learner Voice DVD produced by VT Four S
• Bespoke events for admissions tutors
• Workshops on engaging with employers

Please see the following link for our full progression programme of activities
Diplomas Progression Programme Nov 09 version.docx.

It is hoped that work in 2009/10 will then lead on to the negotiation of progression agreements in 2010-11 from Diplomas to degree level study and further research into how the diploma extended projects could support progression to HE.