1) The 2 Diplomas that will be available at Carlton Le Willows are "Hospitality" and "Construction and the Built Environment". Where can the skills learnt within these two Diplomas transfer to, regarding follow on education and/or employment opportunities?
Diplomas in any subject can lead on to Advanced Diplomas, Apprenticeships, A levels, Degrees, employment with training etc.
Careers specifically linked to these Diplomas include:
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Architecture
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Estate Agency
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'Trowel' trades
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Town planning
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Estates Management
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Restaurant owner/manager
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Events management
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Hotel management
2) What units build up each diploma, are sciences included. What is included in the 'Principal' and 'Generic' learning elements of the Hospitality and Construction and the Built Environment Diplomas?
All learners aged 14-16 have to study science (usually double GCSE award, sometimes single science options) as well as other GCSEs or Diplomas. There will be science within some of the Diplomas, depending on the subjects studied.
The Principal Learning elements of each of the Diplomas can be found at the following links:
About Diplomas
Hospitality Diploma
The generic learning of ALL Diplomas is made up of:
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functional maths
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functional English
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functional IT
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development of 'personal, learning & thinking skills
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a project - developing research skills, independent enquiry, analytical skills etc
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work experience, linked usually to the Diploma subject
3) If either of these is opted for, will this limit choice at the age of 16. What would the options of further education be beyond this?
If Construction & BE or Hospitality are opted for and achieved (alongside perhaps 5 GCSEs) at school, learners will be able to progress onto a range of options:
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A levels (some A levels require the GCSE to have been studied, others don't)
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Advanced Diplomas - in these subjects or in different subjects
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Apprenticeships, not necessarily linked to Construction or Hospitality
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Vocational qualifications in college eg NVQs
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Employment with training
When considering progression after 16, whether with a Diploma or GCSEs, the learner, parents, teachers etc should consider the learners, preferences, strengths, grade profile etc.
4) Will each Year 9 pupil at Carlton Le Willows be evaluated and recommended the best option for them?
Each school will be providing information, advice and guidance to their Year 9 learners. They should provide impartial information, ensuring that learners understand the different options. Parents are usually involved in this process, and are invited to attend options evenings. As with GCSEs, guidance staff might suggest that particular courses/qualifications might interest/suit a particular learner, but the decision will remain with the learner (and parents)
Connexions Personal Advisers are available to provide impartial information, advice and guidance in school to your son or daughter.
5) It was not made clear prior to the evening that only certain Diplomas would be available to certain schools. Why is this?
The event at Colwick Hall was designed to inform parents about Diplomas, rather than to ‘sell’ or promote them. We felt it would be important for parents to understand what a Diploma is, so that they could support their child during the options process.
We appreciate that there was some disappointment felt that not all young people would be able to do all of the Diplomas, and that this depended on the school they attend. However, this decision was taken in order to ensure that Diploma classes had small numbers of students, enabling teachers to focus more intensively on the curriculum, teaching, assessment etc. It is crucial that the quality of Diploma teaching is high, and this will be easier to achieve if courses are restricted in the first year or two.
Young people will have the option of choosing from a wider range of Diplomas at age 16, either at school or at a college.
6) Why not have all subjects at Diploma level available at all schools? If the students can't come to the school that is offering your chosen subject then can it be made available centrally?
I understand that some parents and their children will be disappointed that the Diploma subject they would like to do is not available to them because of the school that they attend.
Unfortunately for your children, Diplomas are still in a 'trial' stage, and so cannot be offered to everyone. From 2013, ALL Diplomas at ALL levels will be available to learners from ALL schools. Between then and now, each year there will be an increasing number of Diplomas available to all schools, but as this is the first year they have been taught in Gedling area, they are very restricted.
This decision was taken in order to ensure that Diploma classes had small numbers of students, enabling teachers to focus intensively on the curriculum, teaching, assessment etc. It is crucial that the quality of Diploma teaching is high, and this will be easier to achieve if courses are restricted in the first year or two.
Young people will have the option of choosing from a wider range of Diplomas at age 16, either at school or at a college. They will be delivered more 'centrally' and opened to more schools and learners.
Apologies for any disappointment for your child, but I hope you can understand the need to 'start small' and 'get it right'
7) I understand the need to test the Diploma and for it to be successful. However, when it's rolled out nationally, schools will have to provide all 14 Diplomas (either at their school or at a neighbouring school, college or training provider). To start the trial next year and not offer all 14 to all students in all schools, won't it give a false reading?
You are right in that if Gedling area of schools went from offering only a few Diplomas to a few schools in 2010, to offering 14 Diplomas to all young people the next year, it would give an inaccurate picture.
However, there are several issues that might help explain:
1) The DCSF (Department for Children, Schools and Families) will only allow schools, colleges and training providers to offer a selection of Diplomas in the early years. They have to go through a strict application process, and are not allowed to simply decide they want to deliver a particular Diploma and then go ahead and do it.
2) As you say, we need to test the delivery, assessment, quality of Diplomas in the early years, to ensure they deliver what young people, parents and employers want. It is easier to start small and gradually grow.
3) Full 'entitlement' to all Diplomas starts in 2013 and in the Gedling area there will be an increased number of Diplomas available to students each year, therefore gradually phasing in the qualification.
The systems set up for travel, funding, quality assurance, communication etc will therefore start small, but will expand each year, until there is confidence that in 2013 everything is in place for young people.
Also, at age 16, your child will have the opportunity to access a much wider range of Diplomas, either in their own school or at a local college, again helping to ensure the system is coping with larger numbers of young people and qualifications.
General Diploma FAQs Page 1
General Diplomas questions Page 2
Questions about Diplomas and progression routes
Miscellaneous Diploma questions
