In September 2008, the government is introducing a new set of qualifications - Diplomas. These new qualifications combine practical learning with academic study. Diplomas are not replacing GCSEs and A levels - they are a new option.

The Diploma combines skills development and general education. It puts functional skills in English, maths and ICT at the heart of the curriculum for 14 to 19-year-olds, so that no young person leaves education without them.
To achieve a Diploma qualification, young people will need to demonstrate competence in maths, English and ICT and a range of personal, employability, learning and thinking skills, like teamwork and self-management. They will also develop some of the specific skills and knowledge required for progression to a range of related employment sectors.

As an employer, the new 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.

Energy & Utility Skills is working in conjunction with partner Sector Skills Councils to develop three of the Diplomas for 14-19 year olds, with the Construction and the Built Environment and the Engineering Diploma planned for launch in September 2008 and the Diploma in Environmental and Landbased Studies to follow in 2009.

Construction and the Built Environment Diploma (www.cbediploma.co.uk)
Engineering Diploma (www.engineeringdiploma.com)
Environmental and Landbased Studies (www.diplomaelbs.co.uk)

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) have appointed a team of nine regional advisers to help support the 14-19 programme - one for each of the English regions and two national advisers focusing on gender equality and rural issues. The advisers all have strong track records in 14-19 education and the group includes former heads and deputies from schools and colleges, OfSTED inspectors and senior staff from Local Authorities and the Learning and Skills Council.
Their immediate priority is the delivery of Diplomas in September 2008 and they will help consortia to identify and address areas in which consortia are facing challenges and signpost them to examples of good practice and other sources of support. They also have a wider role working alongside the Government Offices to implement the 14-19 reforms.

To find your adviser's contact details please visit the 14-19 website.

Extra consortia funding

On Friday 25 January, the Secretary of State announced some additional funding for 2008 consortia. This additional support is being provided to help all consortia to strengthen their capacity to deliver Diplomas and Functional Skills. Every consortium will receive £14,000 and an additional £7,000 per line. This will provide one line consortia with £21,000 and five line consortia with £49,000.

It will be up to consortia to decide how best to use these funds to maximise their impact in preparing for Diplomas and Functional Skills, drawing on the advice of the 14-19 Regional Advisers where appropriate, and considering the support already available to them. For example, the funding could be used to contribute to additional development of the workforce, strengthen employer engagement or to improve local communications about Diplomas. Two or more consortia may choose to pool their funding to contribute to a collaborative project.
This funding will be allocated as an addition to Grant 302: Flexible 14-19 Partnership Funding and will be included in time for March instalment of the Standards Fund. This is a one-off allocation to support the first year of delivery.

To view the new government website for Diplomas please click here.

For further information on these Diplomas please contact Rob Moore, Standards & Qualifications Reform Manager on; rob.moore@euskills.co.uk

Useful Documents

14-19 Education and Skills Implementation Update
Specialised Diplomas Your Questions Answered
Guardian Supplement 14-19 Reform
Qualifications seen from a business perspective (IoD news March 2007)
Sir Alan Jones Employer Diploma Champion
Tailored for business: the diploma explained