14-19 Plan
Diplomas
19 March 2008. DCSF Gateway 2 results have been announced today.County Durham Results are as follows:
| Diploma Line | Consortium | Start Date |
| Construction | DCBC /New College - Gateway 1 Category 3 | September 2009 |
| Construction | County Durham Consortium | September 2009 |
| Creative and Media | County Durham Consortium | September 2009 |
| Land-Based and Environment | County Durham Consortium | September 2010 |
| Engineering | County Durham Consortium | September 2010 |
| Society, Health and Development | County Durham Consortium | Reapplication required |
"Many thanks to all those colleagues who contributed to the production of the diploma self assessments."
Margaret Bell, 14-19 Partnership Director
Durham Diploma
The Durham Diploma will be introduced across clusters as a forerunner to the actual Diploma qualification. Like the Diploma it brings together principal, generic and additional/specialist learning and work experience, but at this stage they are all assessed separately as stand alone qualifications with existing points score. (see structure diagram).
The aim of the Durham Diploma is to get consortia delivering existing qualifications in partnership which will have a two fold benefit. Firstly, it will help consortia move towards the delivery of the actual diploma qualification and begin to embrace the ethos and delivery model of the diploma qualification and iron out many of the teething problems before actual diploma delivery begins. Secondly, it will help consortia work together in partnership and give evidence that clusters are ready to be successful in future Gateway bids. Clusters will work together to formulate the structure of their Durham Diploma and all partners in the cluster will deliver that same suite of qualifications decided upon.
The principal learning is the area that will be delivered in partnership. It will be chosen by Diploma Development Groups from existing vocational qualifications such as BTEC, Applied GCSE’s and OCR Nationals. The delivery model will look different in different clusters, but must contain an element of partnership delivery, eg, it may be the movement of staff from one organisation to another to deliver specialist learning, it could be the movement of students to a college or work based training provider to access specialist equipment etc.
The Generic learning will mirror the generic learning from the actual diploma and include functional skills where possible. If the cluster is not part of the functional skills pilot, then qualifications like key skills will be covered instead. Clusters will also cover the wider key skills which will prepare the way for the introduction of the Personal Learning and Thinking Skills (PLT’s) in the actual diploma qualification. (It is recommended that organisations who are moving towards Diploma delivery try to enrol upon the Functional Skills pilot or begin key skills delivery).
The additional/specialist learning will use the Diploma Catalogue from the National Database of Qualifications, www.ndaq.org.uk, to choose appropriate qualifications that will fit into this category. Clusters are free to use whatever existing qualifications can fit into this category.
Work Experience will be a minimum of five days across key stage 4 or post 16. Clusters will provide placements that are related to the line of learning or enable evidence to be collected to help with their principal learning section of the Durham Diploma.
Durham Diploma - a framework
Principal learning - significant qualification equivalent in GLH to diploma principal learning (to include Work Based Learning)Eg.
L1 BTEC / OCR National
L2 BTEC / OCR National
L3 BTEC / OCR National / Applied GCE / GCE
Generic learning (PLT's / Functional skills)
Embedded in principal learning and evidenced through:
E.g.
Basic skills
Key skills - core and wider
ALAN
Enterprise
Extended project (from 2007)
Additional specialist learning - equivalent
GLH
GCSE's
Applied GCSE's
Other qualifications - sector related
- The Durham Diploma is a prototype qualification to be delivered in advance of the full diploma - its purpose is to model diploma and collaborative delivery, enabling smooth transition to full diploma delivery and to support the gateway application process.
- Suitable models for each line to be developed through consultation
- Intended delivery dates are shown on the 14-19 Implementation Plan 2007-2013
Diplomas
Roll out programme for County Durham:- Derwentside Partnership - Engineering: September 2008
- Durham Community Business College - Construction and the Building Environment: September 2009 (awaiting confirmation)
For a list of 2009 Diploma Providers, Diploma Line and Area, download the file below:
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diploma providers.pdf (2 pages, 11kb)
Common Timetabling for Diploma Delivery
A second meeting took place with Senior Leaders from schools, colleges and Work-based learning, on Wednesday, 19th March 2008, to discuss the Common Timetabling proposals set out in the Briefing Note below (pdf).
Colleagues who were unable to attend the meeting were invited to communicate their views by telephone or email to the 14-19 Partnership.
The proposals were agreed in principle.
In relation to Level 2, in particular, this means that all FE Colleges, some Work-based Learning Providers and a significant minority of schools, will need to move to the proposed common timetabling model to deliver diploma lines by September 2009. Institutions which are not delivering diplomas, but whose pupils wish to access a diploma line at another institution, will need to consider how access can be best managed in this early stage.
By September 2010, it is envisaged that almost all institutions will be involved in delivering a diploma line.
Common Timetabling Diploma Delivery Briefing Note.pdf (3 pages, 90kb)
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Information Files for the Diploma Consultation
County Durham Version 3.pdf (2 pages, 91kb) County Durham Diploma Organisational Structure.pdf (1 page, 20kb) Position Statement Diplomas.pdf (2 pages, 27kb)
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Contact:
Amanda Stewart, Diploma Development Officer
information@countydurham14-19.co.uk
Julie Rimmer, 14-19 Curriculum Co-ordinator
information@countydurham14-19.co.uk
Direct Gov's young persons' guide to diplomas.
