Details of what 14-19 year olds will study in the new specialist diplomas were disclosed at the end of July. The Diplomas for 14 to 19-year-olds, which have been developed jointly by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and industry representatives, will be a blend of general education and work-related study in a special subject
Details of what 14-19 year olds will study in the new specialist diplomas were disclosed at the end of July. The Diplomas for 14 to 19-year-olds, which have been developed jointly by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and industry representatives, will be a blend of general education and work-related study in a special subject. English, maths and IT skills will be core components of each diploma. Students will additionally be expected to complete a project and take part in relevant work experience, as well as completing academic study in their chosen diploma subject, the DfES announced. Diplomas will be available at level 1, the equivalent of five GCSE passes, or level 2, which will be the equal of five or six GCSE passes at grades A to C. Sixth-formers will also have the option to complete a level 3 diploma, which will have the same status as three A levels and will be an entry-level qualification to university.
So we think , what is different about the new diploma as compared with the old BTEC diploma we ask at this stage ?
So what is the difference? As reported in the Education Guardian the schools minister Jim Knight said: "In the past, work-related learning has been developed in isolation from business. We have broken the mould, and we are clear that partnership is the key to success.
"For the first time, employers have been seriously engaged in the development of qualifications from the start, and the diplomas will offer them what they need - young people with superb reading, writing and maths and ICT skills who are enthusiastic, willing to learn and come equipped with an understanding of their sector."
The first diplomas will be available to students in 2008 in five subjects: construction and the built environment; IT; creative and media; health and social care and engineering. This new qualification is part of the government's plan to reform vocational education for 14 to 19-year-olds. The government hopes eventually to offer diplomas in 14 specialist subjects, which will be made available to students through local school consortia arrangements.
Actually, this doesn’t sound much different or ground breaking at this stage, does it ?
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