Top Diploma queries
The Key is a service of_f ering advice and guidance to schools and colleges on educational issues. We asked
Fe McKerrell to take us through the common Diploma queries they receive
HE QUESTIONS we have been getting about How do we timetable the Extended Project?
T
Diplomas have more recently centred on the Many school leaders are concerned about striking the balance of
practicalities of off ering a course. Here are the top fi ve taught and independent work for this strand of the Diploma. T_h e
questions that school leaders have asked us. Qualifi cations and Curriculum Development Agency insists that
schools “exercise their judgement in the interests of learners”.
Small schools What exactly does this mean? T_h e approaches used to deliver the
Sharing between schools and businesses is always plugged as a great project by the schools taking part in the Diploma pilot programme
way to build networks. So it does not matter if you are big or small; could provide some hints. In some centres, the Diplomas were
individual schools are not expected to off er all lines of the Diploma. taught at specifi c times during the year. Some pathfi nder schools
In fact they are actively encouraged to “rely” on one another and to taught the project as an activity at the end of a course, others taught
become specialists within a defi ned area. it in the middle of a scheme of work for a one-year course, or
Collaboration allows schools to focus on a line of learning that towards the end of the fi rst year of a two-year programme.
suits the strengths of the staff and facilities. An institution acting Other centres taught Diplomas throughout the year in timetabled
as a lead on one line of learning acts as a supporting school for the sessions, incorporated them into other subject lessons, or delivered
other lines of learning. T_h is approach can lead to everything on the them through seminars or workshops run by external experts.
syllabus being available within a consortium. A win-win situation.
Work placements can be very time-consuming to organise, Diploma funding
especially for a small school with limited resources. Local Education T_h ere is not exactly a straightforward answer to this as it depends on
Business Partnerships can help schools in maintaining employer a number of factors, including whether it is key stage 4 or post-16
and work placement databases. Brokers can undertake health and and whether schools are part of a consortia. Until 2010, funding
safety visits, select placements that integrate with the curriculum, is directed to schools through the local authorities for key stage 4,
and explain child protection requirements including the need for while the Learning and Skills Council awards funding to providers
Criminal Records Bureau checks. directly for post-16 study. A certain percentage of funding will be
kept back at partnership level in a funding “pool” for unforeseen
How do we recruit? administration costs. Ultimately, funding decisions for key stage
Some schools are concerned about how to get students signed up to 4 come down to the local authorities. From 2010, this will be the
the specifi c Diploma that is right for them. case for both pre and post-16 learners, when the Learning and Skills
It is a matter of ensuring a potential student is able to identify the Council hands over the governance of key stage 5 funding to local
right level for their ability and previous experiences. authorities.
T_h e Kingswood Partnership in Bristol (see page 59) has no formal Funding for Diplomas is distributed through a specifi c formula
entry requirements other than a real interest in the subject and grant. T_h e Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) funds, managed at local
a commitment to work hard. Heathfi eld Community School in authority level or devolved partially or in full to individual schools,
Taunton organises a two-day workshop of practical tasks to recruit will be used to supplement the Diploma Formula Grant.
students for its Level 3 Diploma. T_h e Diploma consortium in T_h e Consortia Support Grant is also funded by the Department
Wolverhampton puts on a taster day for students interested in the for Children, Schools and Families and allocated to local authorities.
Creative and Media Diploma. It is about the students getting as T_h is grant has recently been changed to make funding more fl exible
much information as possible before committing to the course. so that consortia can decide how to use it locally. It was previously
calculated at £30,000 per consortium, per Diploma line in fi rst
Partial completion awards teaching. However, in 2010 it will be allocated based on the number
For whatever reason, some students may not complete every part of 14 to 18-year-olds and the number of lines in an area. DD
of their Diploma. However, they will still merit qualifi cations
and recognition of their achievement – the Extended Project • Fe McKerrell is a specialist curriculum researcher at T_h e Key. Visit
is a qualifi cation in its own right, as are the Generic Learning, www.usethekey.org.uk
Principal Learning, and Additional and Specialist Learning elements
of Diplomas. For those students who do not complete the full Further information
Diploma, a “statement of achievement” will be awarded from Find your Local Education Business Partnership through the
their centre at the end of their studies. Students are then free to National Education Business Partnership Network at http://nebpn.
complete the remaining aspects of their Diploma or undertake other virtualschools.net/folders/home/ and access the Diploma support
qualifi cations, Apprenticeships, or training-based employment. programme at www.diploma-support.org
Delivering Diplomas • Volume 1 No 1 Autumn 2009 15
14-15 Opinion.indd 9 17/9/09 18:12:35
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