Diploma - Parents

Diploma facts

It’s a new qualification for 14 -1 9 year olds
There are 3 levels to study a Diploma at: Foundation, Higher and Advanced
There are up to 10 subjects to pick from for September 2009
Diplomas do not replace existing learning options
They sit alongside GCSEs, A levels and Apprenticeships
And your child can still do these qualifications as part of their Diploma course

What’s important is that doing a Diploma won’t limit any future options for your child. With this qualification, they could stay at school, go on to college, do a degree at university, start a career or do an Apprenticeship.

What are Diplomas worth?

A Foundation Diploma is the same as 5 GCSEs at grades D - G

The Higher Diploma is the same as 7 GCSEs at grades A* - C

The Advanced Diploma is the same as 3.5 A levels

A Progression Diploma is also available, equivalent to 2.5 A levels

An Extended Diploma will be available in 2011, containing extra maths, English and Additional and Specialist Learning

At the end, your child will get a student transcript listing out all the qualifications they’ve achieved on their Diploma course. So they won’t just get a Diploma in the subject area they chose, like Engineering or Hospitality - all the individual qualifications that make it up are included.

When do they start?

The first schools and colleges are teaching 5 Diploma courses now.

Construction and the Built Environment
Creative and Media
Engineering
Information Technology
Society, Health and Development

5 more subjects will be added for September 2009:

Environmental and Land-based Studies
Business, Administration and Finance
Manufacturing and Product Design
Hospitality
Hair and Beauty Studies

Another 4 will start from September 2010:

Travel and Tourism
Public Services
Sport and Active Leisure
Retail Business

And 3 more will start from September 2011:

Humanities
Languages
Science

In 2011, the Extended Diploma will also be on offer. This contains extra maths, English and ICT plus extra Additional and Specialist Learning.

You can find out which schools and colleges are offering Diploma courses through your local 14 to 19 prospectus. Your child can talk to teachers, careers advisors or Connexions staff, and you can also find out more on the parents section of the Directgov website.

What’s different?

The Diploma will help your child develop work-relevant skills, as well as English, maths and ICT, in a creative and enjoyable way. It will appeal to students who like practical subjects, problem solving and applying what they learn to real situations.
It’s flexible, so students get more choice about what they learn. They’ll develop a deeper knowledge of their main subject area, like Creative and Media or Information Technology, plus they’ll get to broaden their study with other courses. These can be related to the main subject area, to do with a hobby, future ambitions to study at university or a career.
It’s important to note that the Diploma does not replace GCSEs or A levels. At Key Stage 4, your child will take GCSEs alongside the Diploma and post-16 they could take additional A levels as well.
What’s important is that the Diploma does not restrict future options - it will help your child make decisions about what they want to do next. Foundation and Higher Diploma students can go on to study for the next level of Diploma, take a different type of qualification such as GCSE, A level or Apprenticeship, or go on to a job with training. An Advanced Diploma can lead on to university or into a career.

The benefits

Students study by relating what they’re learning to real world situations. It means doing lots of projects and applying what they know to solve practical, work-related problems as well as organising themselves to complete a task. Because students have to cover theory as well as practical skills, they will keep their options open for the future. With both theory and practical learning, any route is possible when they finish - further study, or a job with training.
That’s what makes the Diploma different. It gives students the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to go on to employment, college or university - not one or the other.
Both employers and universities have helped design the Diploma. This is to ensure young people have all the skills they need (universities see the Advanced Diploma as broadly equivalent to three A levels) whatever they decide to do next.

Diplomas combine theoretical class work with practical experience
Students will be based at their school or college, but may have the chance to do part of their learning in other schools, colleges and the workplace
It will help your child make decisions about what they want to do next, without restricting their options
They’ll have the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to go on to employment, college or university
They will also gain transferable skills that any employer, in any sector, will value