In This Section:
Schools & Colleges
Employers
Students & Parents
For all the news on Diploma Development as it happens…
Plus remember if you sign up for the Manufacturing Diploma newsletter you can receive all the latest news and events direct to your inbox. Click here to register for the newsletter.
Hundreds more schools and colleges given the green light to offer Diplomas
posted on 19th Mar 2008
72% of secondary schools and 88% of colleges will offer the Diploma in September 2009
The vast majority of schools and colleges in England will offer Diplomas from September 2009, Schools Minister Jim Knight announced today. Around three quarters of secondary schools and 88% of colleges will teach Diplomas with the support of local universities and employers.
317 groups of schools, colleges and training providers will be given the green light to introduce new Diplomas from 2009 in subjects including Environmental and Land-based Studies, and Business, Administration and Finance. They will join the schools and colleges already preparing to teach the first five Diplomas from this September. Ministers have confirmed that by 2013 all young people will have the chance to study a wide range of Diplomas.
Schools and colleges had to pass through a rigorous application process in order to be given the go-ahead and only those able to demonstrate their ability to provide the highest quality courses were successful.
School’s Minister Jim Knight said:
“Schools and colleges are proving keen to offer Diplomas, which are going from strength to strength. I am extremely pleased that so many young people will have the chance to study Diplomas from 2009.
“We set the bar high, so that only schools and colleges that fulfilled our assessment criteria have been given the green light. We are confident that young people who take a Diploma will have a high quality experience as they work towards their qualification.
“The number of schools and colleges that have been successful in their application to teach the Diploma is testament to the fantastic work that is going on, at both a local and national level, to ensure this new qualification delivers for our young people.
“This is an exciting time for education in this country and I am pleased to see so many employers and universities coming on board and joining local partnerships to help make the Diploma a success.”
The high level of involvement from universities and employers has been crucial to the success of the new partnerships of schools and colleges. Around half of all universities will be working with schools to teach Diplomas from 2009, and all the partnerships have to demonstrate good links with employers.
The successful partnerships will be offered a tailored package of support including £27million of additional funding and a programme of professional development for those teaching the new qualification.
David Frost, Head of the British Chamber of Commerce said:
“The British Chamber of Commerce welcomes the Diploma as a qualification designed to meet employer needs. The Diploma offers exciting new opportunities for schools and colleges to work with local Chambers to help ensure young people receive an education which prepares them well for their future employment.”
Michael Arthur, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds said:
“It is really pleasing to see so many consortia coming together to deliver the new Diploma. These partnerships between schools, colleges, local authorities and Higher Education will be the cornerstone of this new way of learning and it is really encouraging to see such a collaborative approach developing across the nation. Universities like ours are looking forward to applications from students with Diplomas and to contributing more to this very important development in education.”
Sir Alan Jones, Chairman Emeritus of Toyota and Chair of Sector Skills Council, SEMTA, said:
“This is an important step in the developing relationship between employers and educationalists. Our clear objective is young people equipped with the skills required for success in work and life. We are delighted that more and more employers are taking up the many opportunities to get involved in the Diploma. There will always be opportunities for more employers, large and small, to support education in ensuring that their business needs are met.”
Professor Deian Hopkin, Vice-Chancellor of London South Bank University said:
“It is very encouraging to see so many more schools, colleges and universities becoming engaged with the Diploma. The step-change in applications for 2009 shows that there is serious intent to make this bold development work. Clearly there is much to be done to ensure that the experience of learners and teachers alike is as good as possible in this early phase and there is much to be learnt from the first years. However, the scale of engagement is accelerating and this is one key to eventual success.”
To view the published successful Gateway 2 results, please click here