An overview of Diplomas

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An overview of Diplomas

• Mary Hurlstone
• 14-19 Adviser, CSF
• Wednesday 26th November,
• University of Hertfordshire

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This session will focus on

• What do you know about the Diplomas so far?
• Whats happening in Herts?
• Diplomas and IAG
• Structure
• Entry requirements
• Learning styles
• Methods of assessment
• Equivalences to other qualifications
• Diplomas within 14-19 Reform
• The part you play
• Useful links

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Q1 Your knowledge

• So what do you know about the Diplomas?
• At the moment I think I know
• a) nothing
• b) something
• c) loads

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Q2 Which students should be on the Diploma
route?

• The Diploma is designed for
• Lower ability students wanting practical
  opportunities?
• All learners who want to learn through a mix of
  theory and experiential/applied learning?
• Average learners to raise their attainment?

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Answer Q2

• b) All learners
• Especially those who are kinaesthetic learners
  touch it, feel it, see it.
• Assessment is based on action research, a
  performance, an artefact or writing an essay

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Answer Q3

• d) Any Level

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Q3 Starting a Diploma

• Students start Diploma courses at
• a) Level 1/Foundation
• b) Level 2/Higher
• c) Level 3/Advanced
• d) Any Level

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Q4 Length of a Diploma course

• To complete a Diploma course takes
• One or two years
• Two years
• One year

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Answer Q4

• One or two years
• All our areas are offering one-year Post -16
  programmes at Higher level

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Q5 - A mix of qualifications

• Students do not take any GCSEs with the
  Diplomas
• Is this?
• a) True
• b) False

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Answer Q5

• b) False
• The Diplomas take up the following amount of
  time
• Foundation/Level 1 30 of the curriculum
• Higher/Level 2 40 of the curriculum
• So GCSEs can be included as additional and
  specialist learning

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Q6 Applied Learning

• A percentage of each Diploma is made of Applied
  Learning ie acquiring the skills, knowledge and
  understanding through tasks, problems and
  situations set in a work context. Is it
• a) 30
• b) 50
• c) 70

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Answer Q6

• b) 50
• The applied element must be 50 of the
  Principal Learning

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Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills (PLTS)

• Six groups of Skills that are interconnected
• Independent enquirers (evaluate, analyse,
  investigate, research)
• Creative thinkers (generate ideas, adapt, try out
  alternatives)
• Reflective learners (assess themselves, deal with
  praise, criticism)
• Team workers (collaborate, contribute, consider
  others)
• Self managers (organise, take and manage risks,
  challenge, respond positively to change)
• Effective participators (actively engage,
  negotiate, identify improvements)

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Q7 - PLTS

• The Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills are a
  major part of the Diploma only
• a) True?
• b) False?

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Answer Q7

• b) False
• PLTS are at the heart of the curriculum for ALL
  11-19 year olds. All courses and qualification
  pathways will focus on developing and
  demonstrating these skills.

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Q8 Work Experience

• Every Diploma student has to do work experience
  for
• 5 days
• 10 days
• It varies from level to level

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Answer Q8

• b) 10 days minimum
• Some Diplomas eg SHD at Level 3 stipulates that
  it should be 20 days over the 2 years
• Experience of work rather than work experience eg
  projects set by business

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Q9 Functional Skills

• To achieve a Diploma at Higher and Advanced
  Levels students have to pass Level 2 Functional
  Skills in
• English and Maths?
• Maths and IT?
• Maths, English and IT?

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Answer Q9

• Maths, English and IT
• Learners will need to pass all 3 functional
  skills at the required level to achieve a full
  Diploma qualification. They are each equivalent
  to 0.5 of a GCSE.
• Introduced nationally from September 2010.
• Replacing Skills for Life (literacy,numeracy and
  ICT) and Key Skills (Communication, Application
  of Number and ICT) qualifications accreditation
  of these until August 2012

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The Components of the Diploma
Personal learning and thinking skills
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Q10 Progression from Diplomas

• Students who follow a Diploma course at KS4
  cannot do A levels at Post-16?
• True?
• False?

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Answer Q10

• b) False
• The Diploma provides an excellent foundation for
  independent study and research skills needed to
  succeed at A level. GCSE qualifications will
  be studied alongside the Diploma (including Maths
  and English) and of course remember the
  equivalencies .

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Q11 - The equivalencies

• The Higher Diploma is equivalent to
• 5 GCSEs at D-G
• 6 GCSEs at A-G
• 7 GCSEs at A-C

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Answer Q11

• c) 7 GCSEs A- C for Higher (Level 2)
• Level 1- Foundation
• 5 GCSEs ( grades D-G)
• Level 3 - Advanced
• 3.5 A levels and
• UCAS 420 points
• Level 3 Progression Diploma
• 2.5 A Levels

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Diploma Marking and Grading

• The grading will be reported in the following
  way
• Foundation Diploma A, A, B or U
• Higher Diploma A, A, B, C or U
• Advanced Diploma A, A, B, C, D, E or U
• Aggregate score of principal learning and the
  project
• A Diploma transcript will record achievements in
  units (grades) and qualifications. There will be
  a record of PLTS and completion of work experience

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Q12 The partnerships

• There are seven partnerships made up of schools,
  FE Colleges and WBL providers. These
  partnerships have been set up based on a travel
  to learn pattern. They are known as
• District Area Partnerships
• Quadrant Partnerships
• Strategic Area Partnerships

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ANSWER Q12

• c)
• Strategic Area Partnerships

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Strategic Area Partnership Groups
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Q13 The SAPGs and Diplomas

• How many of the following SAPGs are running
  Diplomas now?
• Dacorum, SE Herts, SW Herts
• St Albans and Harpenden
• Bishops Stortford and Sawbridgeworth
• North Herts
• Welwyn, Hatfield and East Hertsmere

• Is it
• All 7
• 5
• 3

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ANSWER - Q13

• c) 3

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Q14 Numbers of Diploma lines

• How many Diplomas are running across the County
  now?
• Is it
• 5?
• 2?
• 3?
• 10?

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Answer Q14

• d) 10

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Q15 The SAPGs and Diplomas

• In September 2009 how many SAPGs will be offering
  one or more Diplomas?
• Will it be
• All 7?
• 6?
• 5?

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Answer Q15

• a) All 7

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Q16 Diplomas in 2009

• If all 7 are running the Diplomas in 2009 how
  many is this likely to be in total across the
  County?
• Is it between
• 20-30?
• 30-40?
• 40-50?

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Answer Q16

• b) 30-40
• Possible no. 34

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Q17 - An entitlement to a Diploma

• By which year should all 14-19 years have an
  entitlement to access all the Diplomas?
• Is it
• 2011?
• 2013?
• 2015?

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Answer Q17

• b) 2013

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A phased introduction

• There are 17 Diploma lines of learning from the
  list
• Which ones are available now?
• Which ones are available from September 2009?
• Which ones from September 2010?
• Which ones from September 2011
• Complete the sheet

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First teaching

• Phase 1 September 2008
• Nos 2, 3, 4, 9, 14
• Information Technology Society, Health and
  Development Engineering Creative and Media
• Construction and the Built Environment
• Phase 2 September 2009
• Nos 1, 5, 6, 7, 11Environment and Land-based
  Manufacturing and Product DesignHair and Beauty
  Studies Business, Administration and Finance
  Hospitality
• Phase 3 September 2010
• Nos 12, 15, 16, 17
• Public Services Sport and Active Leisure
  Retail Business Travel and Tourism
• Phase 4 September 2011
• Nos 8, 10, 13
• Science, Humanities and Languages

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Q18 - Routes and qualifications

• As well as the Diploma Pathway, how many other
  routes are available for 14-19 learners? Is it
• a) 1?
• b) 2?
• c) 3?
• d) 4?

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Answer Q18

• c) 3
• The Diploma is one route.
• Diploma entitlement by 2013 for all 14-16 year
  olds to first 14 Diplomas and for 16-18 year olds
  to all 17
• The others are
• Foundation Learning Tier 2010 entitlement
• Apprenticeships entitlement to a place by 2013
• General qualifications eg GCSEs/A level route
• What about the vocational qualifications? eg
  BTECs?

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The Big Picture
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Questions to ask?

• Who is the lead person on Diplomas in the school
  or college where you work?
• Which lines are this organisation delivering on?
• Where can students access the other lines?
• Which learner, which level?

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Finding out the answers

• Remember Hertschoices for details of who is
  offering what and for answers to FAQs
• www.hertschoices.org.uk
• For general information on the Diploma
• www.yp.direct.gov.uk/diplomas/
• For specific information on criteria
• www.ofqual.gov.uk/788.aspx
• To join the Diploma Support Networks
• www.diploma-support.org/
• More detailed FAQs and Diploma Glossary go
• www.qca.org.uk/qca_5396.aspx

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Finally

• The curriculum reforms are designed to
• ensure learning is effective, engaging and
  relevant to young people's lives
• enable all learners to make progress and achieve
  their potential
• give all learners choice and flexibility in their
  learning opportunities
• develop skills that learners need for success in
  further learning, training and employment

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Q19 - After 40 minutes

• Do you think you now know more about the
  Diplomas?
• No
• Yes
• Hopefully the response is b!