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Introduction Diplomas - Why? Diploma Levels Delivery Gateway Work Experience Whats in it for you Timescales Useful Links Glossary FAQ

Diplomas - For Schools, college and Other Training Providers

Introduction

The Engineering Diploma will provide young people with a first chance to find out about engineering without committing to a specific career.  These new qualifications provide an opportunity for students of all ability levels to:

• find out about the breadth of careers available within engineering; 
•  explore the role of engineering in society and in their future;
• ‘have a go’ through applied learning; and
• develop wider skills valued by employers, further education colleges and universities - including communication, mathematics and IT skills.    

Regardless of academic aspiration, the Diploma at all levels will allow students to spend some of their study time outside the classroom, perhaps engaging in hands-on activities in a workshop, seeing the latest engineering technology in use, or working on an exciting project with other students.  The brightest students who are keen to study engineering at university will benefit from the opportunity to learn about engineering through a challenging course of study with university recognition prior to making their university applications.  Those students who are not necessary lacking in ability but who do not respond positively to classroom based academic learning may find that the Diploma ignites both their enthusiasm and confidence for learning, and prepares them to progress either into employment or further in education.

The Diploma in Engineering is designed to be taught by consortia of schools, colleges and other training providers working in partnership with employers.  To find out how your school or college can get involved read about the Diploma Gateway.

Diploma levels

14-19 Diplomas are available at three levels:

• The Foundation Diploma is an introductory GCSE level qualification and designed for those students who want to learn about engineering but do not feel confident progressing straight to a Higher Diploma.  The possibility of enabling younger students to complete ‘taster’ elements of the Foundation Diploma to stimulate interest is being considered. In terms of school league tables the Foundation Diploma will be equivalent to 5 GCSEs grade D-G.
• The Higher Diploma is a GCSE level qualification for those wanting to learn more about engineering whether or not they have completed a Foundation Diploma.  The Higher Diploma is expected to take similar learning time to 5-6 GCSEs but will be valued in school league tables as equivalent to 7 A*-C GCSEs. 
• The Advanced Diploma is designed for sixth formers and college students who would like an industry related alternative to A’ levels which can help them secure employment or a university place.  The Advanced Diploma is expected to take similar study time to 3 A' levels with a UCAS tariff value equivalent to up to 3.5 A' levels.  Students completing an Advanced Diploma in Engineering will be able to dedicate similar time to study of maths and science to those who complete a maths A’ level and a science A’ level, with the advantage that they learn how to apply maths and science to engineering.  The brightest students may be able to complete one or two A1 or A2 levels alongside the Advanced Diploma.

Additionally there will be a Progression Diploma.  The Progression Diploma is designed for the minority of students who aspire to a Level 3 qualification but are unable to complete a full Advanced Diploma, perhaps because of restrictions on the time they have available for studying.   The Progression Diploma will be given to learners who complete all the Principle Learning and Generic Learning within the Advanced Diploma and is broadly equivalent in size to 2 A’ levels.  The Progression Diploma will not give students the opportunity to complete Specialised units or Additional units.

Why and how should I be involved?

The Diplomas are being introduced in September 2008, and all young people should have access to them from September 2013.  

Schools, colleges and others will be expected to deliver Diplomas as part of a collaborative local partnership, rather than acting independently. Those local partnerships who are interested in offering any of the first five Diplomas from September 2008 have applied through a Gateway.  DCSF has contacted all consortia that applied to start teaching Diplomas in 2008 to confirm the application outcome and provide guidance on next steps. Schools and colleges who have not yet applied through the Gateway will be able to do so in subsequent years. 

More information is available now about how to apply through the Diploma Gateway. 

Many factors will impact on the success of the Diploma in your school or college, including:

• expertise of teaching staff – whose industry knowledge should be kept up to date through engagement in Continuing Professional Development;
• the quality of advice and guidance provided to students when selecting study options - which must present Diplomas as a positive option for learners of all abilities;
• timetabling to minimise learner time spent traveling between institutions and maximise opportunities to complete GCSEs or A’ levels alongside the Diploma;
• student access to resources – including PCs and software, laboratories or workshops and equipment – where resources are a problem opportunities to share equipment with other providers or employers should be maximised;
• the quality of work related learning – which should include quality work experience related to the student’s line of learning.

Further information

A Diploma Workforce Support Guide is now available. It provides details of the professional development support available to help consortia prepare for the Diplomas. Click here to download a copy.

Diploma curriculum guidance has been produced by a number of Awarding Bodies working closely with the Engineering Diploma Development Partnership.  Links from the QCA website to relevant Awarding Bodies allow you to access the curriculum guidance. 

We have produced a student friendly presentation for teachers and others to present to inform students about the Diploma in Engineering. If you would like a Powerpoint version of this presentation to use please contact Karen Neal.

We know that schools and colleges have questions to which answers are not yet available.  These include issues relating to funding, training of teachers to teach the new qualifications, work experience, grading, where Diplomas will sit in terms of school league tables and UCAS points, and the impact of Diplomas on other qualifications.  We are working with government and other relevant organisations to answer these questions and will make information available when key decisions have been made.   

A paper on Diploma assessment and grading is downloadable from the QCA website, as is a leaftet about functional skills. 

Other information available on this website includes guidance on work related learning, assessment, project timescales, and the diploma content specification. 

If you want to find out more register for updates or contact Karen Neal.  Alternatively visit the links page for more contacts (including details of Sector Skills Councils involved in development of the Diploma) and sources of information.