Vocational Diplomas
Medway students are among the first in the country to be taught
the government’s new flagship vocational diplomas. They are for 14
to 19-year-olds and offer a totally new opportunity for young
people to gain valuable experiences while at the same time
achieving accreditation equivalent to GCSEs and A-levels.
By 2013, students will be able to choose from 17 specialised
subjects, including:
-
information technology,
-
construction and the built environment,
-
leisure and tourism,
-
hair and beauty,
-
society, health and development.
Schools and colleges will offer the diplomas alongside GCSEs and
A-levels as part of the drive to encourage more people to stay in
education and training and to fill the local skills gaps.
Students will gain qualifications in functional skills and
undertake work experience during their studies.
There will be three levels of Diploma:
-
Foundation - equivalent to five GCSE passes;
-
Higher - equivalent to seven GCSE passes at grade A* to C;
-
Advanced - equivalent to three-and-a half A-levels, which will
be accepted by universities and colleges, as well as allowing
students to go directly into work.
Diplomas will offer young people work relevant qualifications
which will make them very employable in the future. Employers as
well as further and higher education providers are looking for
people with the right mix of qualifications and key skills that
enable them to be successful at work and the diplomas are designed
to ensure exactly that.
The diplomas will provide young people with an excellent base
from which to progress into higher education as well as directly
into the workplace.
Find out more about diplomas on Directgov (http://yp.direct.gov.uk/diplomas/?pro=diplomas).
Local information can be found on the Your Choice in Medway
14-19 website (http://www.yourchoiceinmedway.org.uk/).