The new diplomas

The Advanced Creative and Media Diploma

2005 14-19 Education and Skills White Paper

The new diplomas have been developed in collaboration with employers and HE

The intention is to

• provide access to skilled employment and HE

• meet the skills needs of the economy

Diploma Development Partnerships

DDPs - employers, FE, HE and schools led by Sector Skills Councils

Awarding bodies are developing diplomas in partnership with DDPs

Diplomas will be accredited by the QCA

Other education reforms

A levels will be made more challenging through

• open-ended questions

• an A* grade.

The Extended Project (part of the Advanced Diploma) will be an option alongside A level courses.

Timetabling

Schools and colleges are forming partnerships to ensure that the needs of all students can be met

A diploma student is likely to attend more than one institution as part of their weekly timetable.

Diploma content

The diplomas will combine academic and practical learning in a similar way to BTEC

They will also include

• functional skills

• personal, learning and thinking skills

• a wide variety of options.

Diplomas will be developed in 17 ‘lines of learning’.

For teaching from September 2008

• Construction and the Built Environment• Creative and Media• Engineering• Information Technology• Society, Health and Development

Other subjects

2009• Business, Administration

and Finance• Environmental and Land-

based Studies• Hair and Beauty Studies• Hospitality• Manufacturing and

Product Design

2010• Public Services• Retail• Sport and Leisure• Travel and Tourism

2011• Science• Languages• Humanities

Different diplomas

Foundation

Higher

Advanced

Progression

worth 5 grades D-G GCSE

worth 7 grades A*-C GCSE

worth 3.5 A-levels

maximum 420 UCAS points

worth 2 A-levels

aimed at those who cannot complete a whole Advanced Diploma

Components

Principal learning

Generic learning

Additional and/or specialist learning

related to sector title

• functional skills - English, maths and ICT

• employability skills • extended project• 10 days' work experience

allows student to specialise

Assessment

• each of the components are qualifications in their own right

• overall grade calculated from principal learning and project

• must fulfil the requirements of other parts of the course

The Advanced Creative and Media Diploma

Four core themes

• 1 creativity in context

• 2 thinking and working creatively

• 3 principles, processes and practice

• 4 creative businesses and enterprise

Principal learning

Six units

1. Capture2. Show3. Interaction4. Commission5. Evaluation6. Investigation

Personal, learning and thinking skills

• independent enquiry

• creative thinking

• reflective learning

• team working

• self-management

• effective participation

Additional and specialist learning

Accredited qualifications at the same level as, or one above, the Diploma.

Additional - qualifications from other sectorsSpecialist - qualifications from the same sector

It may include • qualifications available to those not taking the Diploma• qualifications specifically developed to be part of the

Diploma.

The future of the diplomas

2013 government review of all 14-19 qualifications including A levels.

General concern that diplomas are seen as ‘second-best’ vocational qualifications for the less academically able.

Schools have concerns over • complexity of the diplomas• timetabling students on different sites• availability of work placements.