Manufacturing

The Aims of the Diploma

The broad strategic aims of 14-19 reform are to increase the percentage of young people:

who achieve level 2 and level 3 with the knowledge, skills and understanding required by employers and higher education
who participate in post 16 education – increasing the number of 17-year-olds in full time education from 75% to 90% by 2015.

Diplomas are being designed to appeal to:

the most capable students preparing for the most demanding university courses
students who would engage better with the innovative Diploma approach than with existing provision
students preparing for employment or work-based learning.

The Diploma aims to:

meet the skills needs of employers by developing broad knowledge about a sector as well as the skills and attributes related to the chosen sector
ensure teaching and learning draws on up to date developments from the relevant sector
provide an education that helps learners thrive in a constantly changing global economy
place emphasis on learning by doing
offer rich and varied learning environments
develop the knowledge and skills needed to progress into employment with training, further or higher education
support equality and diversity
include opportunities for developing understanding of spiritual, moral, ethical, social, legislative, economic and cultural issues, sustainable development, health and safety considerations and world developments, consistent with international agreements.

Additionally for Levels 1 and 2 only, the Diploma:

coexists with and supports pre-16 National Curriculum study, including National Curriculum English, Maths and ICT
covers the requirement for work-related learning at Key Stage 4
provides opportunity to take up some National Curriculum entitlement within Additional and Specialist Learning.

For Level 3 the Diploma allows for: