Key issues
in association with
Six steps to success
Education unions have been keeping a very close eye on the development of the new Diplomas.
DorothyLepkowska speaks to the NASUWT and discusses their six key issues when it comes to Diplomas
EW qUAlIFICATIONS “This often happens with fledgling “The challenge is how we make partnership
F
have divided opinion as much qualifications which are unknown, as both work in reality and how to support them to
as Diplomas. Schools that have students and parents need to be persuaded of develop capacity. There cannot just be an
embraced the new qualification their merits. But we are also concerned about assumption by the government, or anyone
speak of renewed engagement and enthusiasm the attitudes of employers, some of whom else, that collaboration will simply happen.
among students and staff. Others have been need to get behind them more.” “There has to be commitment and
more cautious, choosing to wait until the Dr Roach said the involvement of resources, and prioritising where resources
Diplomas are embedded, tried and tested. businesses and industry in helping to develop should be used. If one or more members
“The whole area of Diplomas is one some of the lines of learning was important of the partnerships are unwilling or unable
which has been fraught with debate and and welcome, but more employers needed to to bring anything to the table, then the
controversy,” said Dr Patrick Roach, assistant get on board. collaboration is unlikely to survive.”
general secretary of the NASUWT. “Diplomas are intended to improve some of The new Ofsted inspections framework
“As a union, we are strongly behind the issues that employers have raised for years includes judgements in respect of partnership
the Diplomas, both in principle and in in relation to young people’s suitability and success. “So there is now a lever in the system
practice, because we believe they offer a real employability to enter the workplace,” he said. which is saying to schools that we need to see
opportunity to bring to being parity of esteem “These are critical aspects underpinning the evidence that it is working,” Dr Roach added.
between academic and vocational pathways. qualifications. We need to see more employers “We need more incentives in the system to
“We also believe that, if implemented fully welcoming these developments. enable it to grow and flourish and this a key
issue in ensuring that Diplomas work.”
‘
We are strongly behind the Diplomas, both in
Capacity in schools and colleges to
principle and in practice, because we believe
manage and deliver Diplomas
The new qualifications require a significant
they offer a real opportunity to being to bring
amount of assessment and the NASUWT
is concerned about the levels of workload
parity of esteem between academic and
this generates for teachers. “Teachers need
to moderate their work and justify the
vocational pathways judgements they make and we are concerned
about excessive paperwork,” Dr Roach said.
and properly nationally, Diplomas will help to “We simply cannot have a perception “There need to be some clear national
overcome disaffection and non-participation among key players that the qualification is benchmarks or protocols in respect of
in learning among individual students, who not worth the paper it is written on. Students assessment practice around Diplomas. At the
can now tailor their education according to won’t want to study for two years only to moment we have schools and colleges setting
their own preferences, whether in school, then find that some people consider the these themselves and then having to annotate
colleges or in the workplace. It is a re
’
al qualification as worthless.” students’ scripts and attend moderation
window of opportunity which we have not meetings, which take an inordinate amount of
had for decades.” Partnerships and collaboration time and keep teachers out of the classroom.
However, the NASUWT believes there are Many people involved in Diploma delivery “We need to have some rigour to the system
six major issues and concerns that need to be continue to have concerns about how of school and college assessment,” he added.
addressed – either by the government and its partnerships are working.
agencies, or schools and colleges – if Diplomas While the 14 to 19 agenda recognises that Advising students on the right
are to continue to grow in stature and progress no school or college can deliver qualifications qualification for them
as a qualification of choice for young people. in isolation, the reality is often difficult, with Teachers are running the new qualifications
institutions grappling with logistics and alongside established examinations and
Perception of the qualifications delivery. students are bound to ask whether they
“There is an issue over how the qualification is “Working collaboratively should be a should do a Diploma, or stick with GCSEs
perceived by students and teachers, by schools positive experience to meet a wider and more and A levels.
and colleges, and also by employers and diverse group of needs among learners,” Dr The NASUWT is worried that there is a
universities,” said Dr Roach. Roach said. risk that schools may suggest the traditional
160 Delivering Diplomas • Volume 1 No 1 Autumn 2009
16-17 NASUWT.indd 2 17/9/09 18:17:49
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