QCA makes available full details of the five Diplomas which will start in 2008

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Full details of the first five qualifications which will be delivered as the new Diplomas from September 2008 are published by the QCA today.

The diplomas, which will be delivered at three levels ““Foundation, Higher and Advanced, are the first qualifications to be developed for young peoplethrough a systematic partnership between industry and education.

The website www.accreditedqualifications.org.uk. will provide details of which qualifications can be combined to constitute a Diploma. In addition to the National Database of Accredited Qualifications, the QCA will also make available guidance detailing curriculum aims, key learning themes, processes, subject range, content and curriculum opportunities.

These resources join further information provided by QCA and its partners aspart of a new and developing online information facility, launched today atwww.qca.org.uk/diploma.

Ken Boston, Chief Executive of QCA, said: “The new Diplomas offer innovative, high-quality alternatives to A Levels, GCSEs and Apprenticeships. They offer young people a curriculum that willbring learning to life, providing the functional, personal, learning andthinking skills demanded by higher education and employers.

A campaign to make learners aware of the Diplomas will launch at the end of this month. The first five Diplomas will be available in construction and the built environment, creative and media, engineering,information technology, and society, health and development.

Mr Boston added : “Diplomas will be successful if they drive up participation in educationpost-16 and if learners become excited about areas such as engineering,creative and media, and information technology – taught byindustry-qualified teachers in industry-standard facilities, or in theworkplace.

“Diplomas will generate this excitement and everyone should look forward totheir first teaching in many schools and colleges from September 2008.”