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NEW STREAMLINED QUALIFICATIONS SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE CLARITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, PARENTS AND EMPLOYERS
31 March 2008- Chairs of Development Partnerships for Diplomas in Science, Humanities and Languages also announced -
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls today published proposals to simplify the qualifications system so that all courses are well understood and valued, and offer young people a clear route into further study or directly into skilled employment.He said that the system needs to be streamlined so that young people, parents, employers and universities clearly understand the options on offer. The proposals form part of a Qualifications Strategy for 14-19 year olds published for consultation today which sets out plans to incorporate the very best of existing qualifications into four key national qualification structures: Diplomas; GCSEs and A-levels; Apprenticeships; and a Foundation Learning Tier of courses that act as a route into higher level qualifications. Ed Balls said:“Building on the aim that we set out in the Children’s Plan for a world-class education system for all 14-19 year olds, this Strategy will help to ensure that we can unlock the talent of every young person – enabling all teenagers to gain qualifications that are understood and valued and allow them to achieve and succeed. This Strategy builds on the advice we have received from a group of independent experts from all parts of the education sector and employers.“The current qualification system is still too complex – it is often difficult for young people and their advisers to understand which will best meet their needs and support their aspirations. Not every qualification option has clear progression routes to further study or to skilled employment. Not all the qualifications currently on offer enable young people to develop all the skills and knowledge they need, and that employers and universities want. We want a more comprehensive and coherent qualification for young people, supporting better progression through a set of clear, well-valued qualification choices.“Building on the vision set out in the 2005 White Paper, 14-19 Education and Skills, there will be four key national qualification routes: GCSEs and A levels; Diplomas; Apprenticeships; and the Foundation Learning Tier. These will offer a range of choices from general education to job-specific, and will support learners of all abilities throughout the country. This clear new offer will build on the best of existing provision, but will also secure a coherent system of 14-19 education that is truly fit for the future, with the flexibility to meet the needs and aspirations of each and every young person. We have said that we will conduct a first review in 2013 of all 14-19 qualifications, in the light of the evidence and experience of what has happened as new qualifications have been introduced. “These proposals are an essential part of our plans to raise the education and training leaving age to 18, so that all young people have the right skills to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world and can continue learning throughout life.”Key elements of the Qualifications Strategy for 14-19 year olds include:• simplifying the system, with a new process to bring the best of existing qualifications into the four main national routes, while building towards a more streamlined offer; • establishing a step-by-step process through which we can be assured that in simplifying the qualifications available, we are continuing to meet the full range of learner needs;
• development of a set of common criteria against which we will assess whether qualifications will be approved for use for young people in the future;• the appointment of an expert body of external advisers – the Joint Advisory Committee on Qualification Approval – to use the criteria to advise on whether qualifications should be approved for funding;• ensuring that new qualification options are made as comprehensive as possible, to better meet the needs of all young people through:
o the Extended Diploma, which will recognise a wider range of achievement within the Diploma framework; o plans to make the Extended Project an option for all young people who study A Levels;o an extension of the Diploma entitlement from the first 14 to all 17 Diplomas post-16 from 2013. Jim Knight, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, added:“We are confident that these proposals will go a long way towards our aim of attracting more young people to learning, transforming standards in the basics and in the wider skills for employability, and enabling all young people to be taking qualifications that have a real standing with employers and the public at large, establishing a strong progression route to further and higher education. “The formal consultation process will allow us to take the views of all those interested in these proposals, and to ensure that we are moving in a direction which will make our qualifications system more robust and responsive to the needs of all.”Michael Arthur, Vice-Chancellor of Leeds University, said:“Delivering effective change in 14-19 education is a massive challenge, but one that this country must seriously address if we are to remain competitive in this fast globalising world. The status quo is no longer a viable long term option. It is critically important that we are able to provide learning opportunities for our young people, allowing them all to develop to their full potential. The proposals contained in this strategy represent a new way forward that takes into account all levels of ability and different styles of learning. Such an approach is essential if we are going to achieve the high levels of education and skills that this country requires for a successful future.”Professor Deian Hopkin, Vice-Chancellor London South Bank University and Joint Chair, Higher Education Engagement Board said:“The publication of a comprehensive and coherent strategy and framework for 14-19 Qualifications is a major step forward, clearly outlining the exciting and challenging range of provision which is being developed. Higher Education will welcome this development not least because it provides clear navigation, demonstrates the various routes of progression into higher education and enables practitioners to engage even more closely in the development of a 14-19 curriculum which is appropriate for a rapidly evolving world.”Mike Tomlinson, Chief Adviser of London Challenge, said:“I welcome this consultation document as it offers a practical path to the establishment of a coherent approach to 14-19 qualifications. The ultimate goal of a credit-based system is needed if efforts to close the gap between academic and vocational qualifications are finally to be successful.” John Dunford, General Secretary of the Association of School and Colleges Leaders, said: “I welcome this consultation, which represents an important step on the road to a more coherent, better understood, qualifications system. It is vital that young people are able to see clear routes through the qualifications system to higher education and employment. Equally, it is essential that all the qualifications are recognised by higher education admissions staff and employers. We look forward to working with the government in the development of a single credit-based framework, which ASCL has been advocating for many years.”Mr Balls also announced the Chairs of the Diploma Development Partnerships for the three new Diplomas in Science, Humanities and Languages. They are:• Science Diploma: Professor Hugh Lawlor (Professor of Education, Canterbury Christ Church University; Director, AstraZeneca Teaching Trust);• Humanities Diploma: Sir Keith Ajegbo (former Headteacher, and Government Advisor);• Languages Diploma: Dr Terry Lamb (Senior Lecturer in Education, University of Sheffield; governor of CILT – The National Centre for Languages).Ed Balls said:“I am extremely pleased that Professor High Lawlor, Sir Keith Ajegbo and Dr Terry Lamb have accepted the offer to lead our new Diploma Development Partnerships. I am confident that having such talented, experienced individuals at the helm will ensure these new Diplomas are exciting, wide ranging and of the highest quality and I look forward to their development.”Prof. Hugh Lawlor said: “Offering exciting and accessible opportunities for young people to study science subjects at school is absolutely vital if we are to ensure that the UK maintains its position as a world-leader in scientific innovation. The new Diploma in Science will make sure that science can be taught in relevant and stimulating contexts, and will give young people the knowledge and skills they need to pursue higher-level study of science, or entry to science-related employment. I am pleased to be taking up this role at the heart of the new qualification’s development.” Sir Keith Ajegbo said: “The Diploma in Humanities will offer young people a new way to access a broad range of subjects from the humanities, and combine these to make a coherent learning package that supports them in their career aspirations. I am delighted to have this opportunity to chair the Diploma Development Partnership which will bring together representatives from employers and higher education to make sure that we are equipping young people with the skills they need for success.” Dr Terry Lamb said: "I am delighted to be taking up this key role in the development of the Diploma in Languages. The new Diploma represents a unique opportunity to raise the profile of language learning in schools and colleges, and to encourage more young people to take up and continue the study of languages. Language learning and cultural awareness are absolutely vital for success in our increasingly globalized lives, and the new Diploma will encourage young people to develop high-quality language skills and intercultural awareness, taught in innovative and exciting ways, which they can then apply in real-life contexts."Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'
1. The Qualifications Strategy is published today at http://www.dcsf.gov.uk 2. QCA will today launch the curriculum guidance for Phase 2 Diplomas. This information can be found at http://www.qca.org.uk/diploma On 2nd April, the Diploma development partnerships will publish Line of Learning statements, outlining the content of the Phase 3 Diplomas available from 2010
Contact Details
Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
Press Notice 2008/0062
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