New diplomas launched in Warwickshire
The Government announced an extra £655 million in Wednesday's budget to guarantee every young person a place in post-16 learning.
To coincide with this announcement, Warwickshire County Council’s 14-19 Team has unveiled a new raft of diplomas for pupils across the county to study from September 2010.
The diploma is a new qualification for 14-19 year olds, which will be delivered alongside GCSE and A level provision.
Warwickshire was successful in securing Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) funding to deliver the following diplomas: North Warwickshire – retail, sport and active leisure, travel and tourism; Central Warwickshire – sport and active leisure, IT; East Warwickshire – engineering, sport and active leisure; South Warwickshire – creative and media, environmental and land based studies, sport and active leisure.
For the first time from this September, Warwickshire learners aged between 14 and 19 can study the diploma. This qualification has been designed to appeal to a wide range of learners and will offer young people more choice in their learning.
The diploma combines theoretical study with practical experience. Diplomas will cover 14 disciplines at Key Stage 4 and 17 disciplines Post 16, including engineering, IT and creative and media.
Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Warwickshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Children, Young People and Families, said: “The new diploma qualification will help students make aspirational decisions about their future direction without closing down other avenues to a successful career.
“Together with updated GCSE and A levels, these changes will mean that all young people can choose a qualification which best suits their interests and learning style.”
All diplomas will require a student to achieve a minimum standard in English, maths and ICT, complete a project and do a minimum of 10 days’ work experience.
Diploma students will also acquire the skills and knowledge which are essential for success in employment and higher education, both related to the discipline and those which are common, like teamwork, self management and critical thinking skills.
It will provide students with an integrated programme of study made up of different courses and awards. Foundation and Higher Diploma students can go on to study for the next level of diploma, take a different type of qualification such as a GCSE, A level or apprenticeship, or go on to a job with training.