Hundreds more schools will offer Diplomas

Almost three quarters of secondary schools (72%) and 88% of colleges will offer Diplomas in September 2009 School Minister, Jim Knight, announced in March.

The schools and colleges that will offer Diplomas will be supported by local universities and businesses. 317 groups of schools, colleges and training providers will be given the green light to introduce new Diplomas from 2009 in subjects including Environmental and Land-based studies, and Business, Administration and Finance. They will join the schools and colleges already preparing to teach the first five Diplomas from this September. Ministers have confirmed that ,by 2013, all young people will have the chance to study a wide range of Diplomas.

In order to be given the go-ahead to introduce new Diplomas, schools and colleges had to pass through a rigorous application process and had to demonstrate their ability to provide the highest quality courses.

Schools Minister, Jim Knight, said:

“Schools and colleges are proving keen to offer Diplomas, which are going from strength to strength. I am extremely pleased that so many young people will have the chance to study Diplomas from 2009.

“We set the bar high, so that only schools and colleges that fulfilled our assessment criteria have been given the green light.”

The high involvement from universities and employers has been crucial to the success of the new partnerships of schools and colleges. Around half of all universities will be working with schools to teach Diplomas from 2009, and all the partnerships have to demonstrate good links with employers.

The successful partnerships will be offered a tailored package of support including £27 million of additional funding and a programme of professional development for those teaching the new qualification.

Hundreds more schools will offer Diplomas

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