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Extended Diploma announced
posted on 7th Mar 2008
7 March 2008 – Speaking at the ASCL conference in Brighton, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls said that the Extended Diplomas would be available from 2011 and will be designed to extend each of the 17 Diploma lines and are expected to be equivalent to 4.5 A levels at the Advanced level, 9 GCSEs at the Higher level and 7 GCSEs at the Foundation level.
The Extended Diploma will build on the unique blend of applied learning and theoretical knowledge that the Diploma offers to recognise a greater range of achievement, and to give young people more opportunities to add depth and breadth to their studies.
A strengthened core of English and maths will be a key feature of the new Extended Diploma at all levels.
The Extended Diploma will offer a more in-depth grounding, and more opportunity for research-intensive, independent study in each subject for those Advanced level students who want the stretch and challenge offered by a larger programme of learning. The Extended Diploma responds to calls from business and universities for more students with Advanced level maths and English skills to meet future economic demands. We will be consulting to explore how these skills can be developed.
For young people aged 14 to 16 the Extended Foundation and Higher level Diplomas will incorporate more of the core national curriculum such as GCSE-level English, mathematics and science.