Diplomas
If you prefer learning through practical experience, the Diploma offers a mixture of academic study, skills and work experience.
If you prefer learning through practical experience, the Diploma offers a mixture of academic study, skills and work experience.
"The Diploma combines hands-on experience with classroom study."
Introduced in 2008, Diplomas are for 14–19 year olds in England only.
Diplomas are aimed at a broad range of students and usually take two years to complete. There are different levels, depending on your age and ability:
Headlines suggesting Diplomas are being scrapped are not strictly accurate. The Government has only scrapped the launch of three new Diplomas in Science, Humanities and languages. Schools can still teach Diplomas if they want to and it's still a recognised qualification by all but a few universities.
Unfortunately, the Diploma is only currently available in schools and colleges in England.
The Diploma combines hands-on experience with classroom study. It's made up of different parts:
• Principal Learning: Your main Diploma subject
• Functional Skills: English, maths and ICT
• The Project: A way to show what you've learnt. It can be a written report, or something practical, like a short film
• Additional and Specialist Learning: Optional courses agreed with your teacher, e.g. a GCSE in a foreign language
• Work experience: A minimum of 10 days with an employer, finding out what it's like to be in the workplace
• Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills: Where you learn about working in a team, being creative, studying and organising yourself
No, it's another option for you to consider. In Years 10 and 11, you can take GCSEs either as part of the Diploma (as your Additional and Specialist Learning option) or in addition to it. You can also switch between the different types of qualifications, for example, you may choose to take a Higher Diploma from 14–16, then do A-levels. Or you might do GCSEs then start an Advanced Diploma at 16. Post-16, you can do A-levels at the same time as a Diploma.
From September 2009 there will be 10 subjects available, although your choices will be limited to what's on offer locally. They are:
More subjects will be added in 2010 and 2011.
Some elements will be marked by a teacher, and you'll also sit externally-set tests. Your final grade will be calculated by combining your grades for the Principal Learning and the Project only. You'll also have to pass the Functional Skills, Work Experience and Additional and Specialist Learning parts – but the grades for these, where applicable, don't count towards the Diploma grade.
About 72% of secondary schools and 88% of colleges will offer some of the Diploma subjects this September. You may have to attend another school or college for part of your class work, but you will receive help with these arrangements and your travel will be paid for.
The Government says that doing a Diploma will keep all your options open and that you'll be able to get a job or an Apprenticeship or go on to further study, such as college or university, when you've finished. Currently, however, 20% of universities do not accept the Advanced Diploma as an entry qualification. All universities have given statements to UCAS about their views on the Diploma.
By Sophie Freeman