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Diplomas
The Diploma is an exciting new qualification for 14 to 19 year olds, available in England, offering young people more practical, hands-on experience as well as classroom learning. They are designed to help young people develop the knowledge and skills employers and universities look for and progress more effectively into employment, training and further or higher education.
Diplomas play a key role in the Government's objective to raise the participation age. From 2013, the minimum age at which young people can leave education or training will be raised to 17 and in 2015, it will become 18. Diplomas are aimed at increasing the choices available to young people and encouraging them to stay in education for longer.
The Diploma is flexible, so students can combine it with GCSEs and A levels. Young people studying for Diplomas will do so along with any compulsory subjects - for example, English, Mathematics, Science and Physical Education in years 10 and 11.
All Diplomas will require individuals to achieve a minimum standard in English, Mathematics and Information Communication Technology (ICT), complete a project and do a minimum of 10 days' work experience.
As an employer, the Diploma gives you:
- Better prepared, more knowledgeable young people as employees
- A more effective way to recruit for the future
- Another avenue of staff development through talks and support for young people
- A sector-relevant foundation from which you can develop work-related skills and competencies to meet your business needs
