DEPARTMENT FOR
CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES News Release (2007/0195) issued by
The Government News Network on 23 October 2007
* Additional
Diplomas in Science, Languages and the Humanities launched
* The CBI, Russell Group universities and Mike Tomlinson to sit
on an Expert Advisory Group to shape new qualifications
* 2008 Review of A-Levels postponed. First review of 14-19
qualifications to be held in 2013
Ed Balls today announced plans for additional Diplomas in
Science, Languages and the Humanities in order to increase the
options for 14 to 19 year olds. He welcomed the strong and growing
support for the first Diplomas and set out the next steps in
building a consensus among schools, universities, colleges and
employers on improving the UK's skills base.
Flanked by Richard Lambert of the CBI, Mike Tomlinson and
representatives of Cambridge, Exeter and Leeds Universities, Mr
Balls told a group of business leaders and education professionals
at the CBI Conference Centre that the expanded Diploma range could
become the qualification of choice over the next decade.
He said: "If Diplomas are successfully introduced and are
delivering the mix that employers and universities value, they
could become the qualification of choice for young people. But,
because GCSEs and A-Levels are long-established and valued
qualifications, that should not be decided by any pre-emptive
Government decision, but by the demands of young people, schools
and colleges."
Mr Balls confirmed that an A-Level review scheduled for 2008 will
now be postponed and that a first review of 14-19 qualifications
will instead take place in 2013.
He said: "It has been argued in the past that Diplomas could
only be a success if A-Levels and GCSEs were no longer offered as
stand-alone qualifications, and that we should use the planned
2008 review of A-Levels to signal the end of these qualifications.
"But this is not the Government's view and not a matter
for us to pre-judge. We need to have time to consider the success
of our Diplomas, and assess how far the changes we have already
made to A-Levels and GCSEs have strengthened these qualifications."
Setting out the next steps in the Government's Diploma
programme, Mr Balls said:
"Diplomas will open up real opportunities for combining
academic and practical options to allow every young person to make
the most of their talents, whether they are progressing to further
study, work or an apprenticeship.
"We are confident that these new subject-based Diplomas will
secure the benefits of Diplomas for all young people. They will
provide a wider curriculum offer for those young people who want
to secure both the theory and practical skills they need to excel
in study, work and life.
"We need the business and academic worlds to continue to
back these qualifications and help make them a success. With their
support, I believe that Diplomas could emerge as the jewel of our
education system."
Developed to meet the needs of universities and businesses,
Diplomas will secure a fully-rounded education for all young
people at all levels of ability. They will combine in-depth
theoretical and practical study of specific subject areas, a
strong focus on English, Maths and ICT skills and opportunities to
apply their learning in work-related contexts.
All Diploma students will be able to communicate and analyse data
at the highest levels, while at the same time developing a broader
set of personal skills and attitudes that businesses and
universities require: the ability to learn independently, think
creatively, solve complex problems, manage time effectively, show
determination and resilience and work with others.
There are already plans for 14 Diploma qualifications introduced
over the next three years. The first five Diplomas - in
Construction and the Built Environment, Creative and Media,
Engineering, Information Technology and Society, Health and
Development - will be offered for the first time next September to
nearly 40,000 young people in almost 900 schools and colleges
around the country. Diplomas will follow in: Business,
Administration and Finance, Hair and Beauty, Hospitality,
Environmental and Land Based Studies, Manufacturing and Product
Design, Public Services, Retail, Sport and Leisure, Travel and Tourism
The three additional Diplomas announced today will not be based
around a specific sector. Instead, they will focus on Science,
Languages and Humanities as broad subjects. They will guarantee a
core of functional skills in English, Maths and ICT, in-depth
knowledge of their subject area and practical skills.
These additional Diplomas will incorporate the best of existing
GCSE and A-Levels qualifications along with new specially-designed
content developed by a group of leading academics and employers.
They will be available to young people for the first time from
2011. The standards of the new qualifications will be assured and
secured by the new independent regulator.
The Department for Children Schools and Families will establish a
Diploma Development Partnership (DDP) to specify the content for
each of the new Diplomas, consulting with a wide range of partners
and stakeholders, which will start work in the New Year.
In order to specify the design structure and principles within
which this DDP will work, the Department will now create an Expert
Advisory Group to work with it over the next few months to develop
the terms of reference for the DDP and also advise us on the
implications for the strategic direction of our 14-19
qualifications offer. The group will include Mike Tomlinson, Susan
Anderson at the CBI, teachers and senior figures at several of the
UK's leading universities, including Cambridge, Exeter and Leeds.
Ed Balls said:
"The UK is at the starting line of a skills race that will
define our future prosperity. As well as experts in engineering,
IT and health, we also need to develop a stronger supply of
talented scientists and linguists to compete globally.
"The balance of academic rigour, practical knowledge and
generic skills that Diplomas provide will address this urgent
need. That's why we want to expand the Diploma programme to
offer these new options for young people - they will suit those
who may not have a sector-specific interest at 14 or 16, but who
still want to benefit from the Diploma experience.
"It's encouraging that so many leading companies and
universities have pledged their support to Diplomas. I am
particularly pleased that the CBI is working closely with us to
make all these Diplomas, including the three we are launching
today, work for business and young people."
Richard Lambert, Director General of the CBI, said:
"The Diplomas are designed to ensure young people develop
the skills they need - literacy, numeracy and employability - and
make them realise how these skills are relevant to their working
lives. The Diplomas will also provide valuable insights into the
way particular sectors operate and help young people make better
informed career decisions.
"The Government has embarked on a very ambitious plan to
roll out this programme in a short space of time. If it is to be
successful, the Diploma system must be properly promoted to
students, parents, universities and employers. Business must play
its part by providing high quality work experience which enables
students to develop and apply the skills they've learnt in
the classroom."
Mike Tomlinson said:
"Today's statement is most welcome as it will see the
creation of Diplomas covering A-Level and GCSE subjects, providing
students with the core skills and knowledge needed to maximise
their potential, whether in HE or employment. While there is much
to do before the proposals can be fully implemented, I look
forward to being part of those next steps."
Geoff Parks, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Cambridge
University said:
"We have had extensive input into the Engineering Diploma,
with the goal of ensuring that it will be a suitably rigorous
qualification for entry into higher education.
"I welcome the fact that these new Diplomas will be HE-led
and anticipate that many of our academics would welcome a role in
their development. As with all broad-based educational
developments the ability to transfer to study at leading research
universities will depend on students taking the correct
combination of subjects and options.
"The University strongly welcomes any moves that will
encourage young people to study the sciences, maths and modern
languages in particular at a higher level."
Sir Anthony Greener, Chairman of the Qualifications and
Curriculum Authority (QCA), said:
"QCA warmly welcomes this announcement, which builds on the
experience gained in developing the initial suite of Diplomas for
teaching in 2008. It marks an important further step away from the
vocational-academic divide, allows young people to develop their
talents, and prepares them for the world of work. We look forward
to working with the Expert Advisory Group in the development of
these important new qualifications."
Duncan Mitchell, Vice President and Managing Director of Cisco
Systems UK and Ireland, said:
"In Cisco we recruit highly talented graduates. We need
people with a real aptitude for technology, who are business
focused, and who perform well in a professional work setting. We
believe these Diplomas will ensure young people have the IT and
other skills required to succeed in business."
The membership of the Expert Advisory Group is:
* Susan Anderson - Director of HR Policy, CBI
* Mike Tomlinson - Diploma champion for schools and colleges
* Dr Geoff Parks - Director of Admissions for the Cambridge Colleges
* Prof Steve Smith - Vice-Chancellor, Exeter University
* Prof Michael Arthur - Vice-Chancellor, Leeds University
* Prof Deian Hopkin - Vice-Chancellor, London South Bank University
* Jackie Fisher - Principal, Newcastle College
* David Kershaw - Principal, New College Leicester
* Malcolm Trobe - Head, Malmesbury School
* Kathleen Tattersall - Chair, Institute of Educational Assessors
* Duncan Mitchell - Vice President and Managing Director, Cisco
Systems UK and Ireland
NOTES TO EDITORS
A policy statement setting out the detail can be viewed at
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2007_0195
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