Schools 'want to offer Diplomas'

Ed Balls meeting hairdressing students: Diplomas start soon

The government says two thirds of schools and three quarters of colleges in England want to offer the first 10 Diplomas subjects from September 2009.

It has confirmed that five subjects will be taught to some of those aged 14 to 19 from this autumn.

They will be offered by 147 consortia of 833 schools and 164 colleges.

Teenagers will at first have no opportunity to take Diplomas in a third of England's 150 local authority areas, rising to universal provision by 2013.

'New route'

In a statement the Children, Schools and Families Secretary, Ed Balls, said: "These figures show that Diplomas are proving a popular choice for schools and colleges.

"Diplomas will offer learners a new route into further and higher education as well as into skilled work."

University admissions officers have said however that Diplomas are unlikely to be accepted on all higher education courses.

The first five Diplomas, on offer from this year, are in:

• construction and the built environment
• creative and media
• engineering
• information technology
• society, health and development

In most of the initial areas offering these there is just one consortium. These vary in size from one school and a college in several areas to as many as 27 schools and four colleges in Kirklees.

However some areas have multiple consortia. Lincolnshire has six.

The next five Diplomas include:

• manufacturing and product design
• business, administration and finance
• land-based and environmental studies
• hair and beauty
• hospitality

A Department for Children, Schools and Families spokeswoman said: "The Diploma 'gateway' process was introduced to ensure that in the early years of a highly innovative qualification it is delivered successfully and for the benefit of young people.

"We have consistently said that quality is key."

Each application was assessed against criteria developed with a wide range of stakeholders. "Some schools and colleges will begin teaching Diplomas in 2008, with more being phased in during 2009, 2010 and 2011. By 2013 every 14 to 19-year-old in the country will be entitled to take a Diploma if they wish."