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INNOVATIVE NEW DIPLOMAS CAN HELP IN GLOBAL SKILLS RACE
20 September 2007Schools Minister Jim Knight said today that diplomas can play a key role in helping the next generation succeed in the global skills race. He said diplomas provided the right mix of practical and academic learning which was crucial in meeting the challenge of a future where the number of unskilled jobs will shrink dramatically and there will be a higher demand for skilled professionals. Speaking at a major conference on Diplomas held today Schools Minister Jim Knight said: “In future, young people will need the mix of academic and practical skills the Diploma delivers. “By 2020, estimates suggest there will only be 600,000 unskilled people left in work in this country – whereas there will be 4.6 million more highly skilled jobs to fill. We are at the starting line of a global skills race which British businesses, universities and colleges must win – and Diplomas will play a key role.“There is a growing consensus among employers, universities and the broader education community that diplomas are going to make a real difference. “These creative, innovative qualifications are unique in overcoming the artificial and unhelpful divide between academic and practical learning.“Our challenge now is to ensure that young people themselves, as well as their parents, also share in the enthusiasm and excitement, understand the new opportunities on offer, and feel confident that choosing a diploma will help them fulfil their ambitions.”More than 40,000 students are expected to take the Diploma when the first five courses – Construction and the Built Environment; Creative and Media; Society, Health and Development; Engineering; and Information technology – go live in September 2008.Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'
1. In March, 145 groups of schools, colleges and training providers (‘consortia’) were given the green light by ministers to offer places on Diploma courses to students in 97 local authority areas in England. A further 197 consortia have been given provisional approval to deliver the new qualifications in September 2009. Other consortia will have the chance to apply again. 2. A Schools & Connexions Pack will be distributed widely from 24 September to over 1,300 educational institutions, as well as regional delivery consortia, Connexions advisers, SSAT co-ordinators, local authorities and Diploma Development Partnerships that have been signed up to deliver the 3. The launch of schools resources is just one element of a range of activity taking place in September 2007 to help progress 14-19 learning reform. 4. All local authorities have now put in place an online 14-19 Area Prospectus, aiming to provide independent and impartial information on local options (including Diplomas) to young people and their parents, helping them make informed choices about where and how they would like to undertake their learning.5. In support of this, twelve new quality standards have now been developed, setting out the expectations for Information, Advice and Guidance services, in advance of local authorities assuming overall accountability for the quality of young people’s information, advice and guidance as of 2008. A User Guide and Good Practice Guidance will be published in October 2007.6. The developments follow close on the heels of the QCA publishing full details of the first five Diploma qualifications in early September, including guidance on curriculum aims, key learning themes, processes, subject range, content and curriculum opportunities. These resources join further information provided by QCA and its partners as part of a new and developing online information facility www.qca.org.uk/diploma .7. For more information about the Diploma and 14-19 education, visit www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19.Contact Details
Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
Press Notice 2007/0166
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