Case study
Secondary students:
Hands-on learning
Dorothy Lepkowska visited a Midlands school to f_i nd out why its Diploma students chose the new
qualif_i cation ahead of more traditional routes
IKE ALL students choosing their as drama, music and arts, without the need Mark Richardson, the lead teacher and
upils at the Blue Coat CE to have to do them separately. I didn’t want media studies co-ordinator at the school, said
Performing Arts College in Walsall, to get completely bogged down in academic the course had fuelled students’ imaginations.
L
options, p
had some diffi cult decisions to subjects and wanted to do something “T_h ey have just completed a horror trailer
make. Should they stick with what they knew vocational as well.” as part of one of the units, in which they
– A levels and BTECs – or try something Her classmates agree. Abigail Barton, also had to include the theme of happiness, so it
D
Delivering completely new? 15, said: “I chose this Diploma because I am was interesting to see how they coped with
iplomas
For some, studying for a Diploma was the creative and always involved in school plays this,” he said. “T_h e Diploma has opened up
obvious way forward despite the concerns and productions. a host of opportunities for us to work with
about it being a new, untried and untested, “I’m particularly enjoying working with outside organisations. For example, we have
qualifi cation. students and teachers from other schools, worked with a local art gallery, and had visits
Chloe Hale, 15, is one of 17 pupils at the because it is a good opportunity to meet other from advertising experts who have spoken to
school taking a Level 2 Diploma in Creative people and learn from other staff . T_h e fact the students about their work.
and Media. She said: “I know some people course is targeted at students of mixed abilities “One of the things we have noticed is that
thought doing a Diploma might be a bit means that we are working with students we students often enjoy the practical aspect more
of a doss but actually it’s really hard work. might not normally work with.” than they do the research,” he added.
Like some of my friends, I was a bit worried Blue Coat has an excellent reputation Mr Richardson said the consortium had
whether it would be a good qualifi cation to locally in the performing arts, so off ering some challenges to overcome when deciding
have, but the longer I study for it, the more Creative and Media was an obvious step how to deliver the qualifi cations.
convinced I am that it will be useful.” forward, said Ken Yeates, the school’s head “It can be a challenge to work with other
Case study
Chloe is deemed by teachers to be an and a member of the management committee institutions, where staff have diff erent ways
academic student in all subjects, but with a for Diploma development in Walsall. of doing things. So there were a lot of emails
heavy slant towards drama. “Like all schools going down this path fl ying around because we had to sustain the
“T_h e Diploma seemed to cover all the there was a lot of organising to do,” lines of communication,” he said. “It was
subjects I wanted he said. “We run the Diploma in a real case of everyone compromising and
to take, such partnership with three other schools adapting to accommodate each other. We had
and a college, so we had to arrange no insurmountable problems, but it was a case
for students to be transported of working diff erently at times.”
around.” Students also experienced some early
Selection to the Diploma was by challenges. “I was surprised at how much
interview, which meant that schools work was involved in doing a Diploma,”
all had to adhere to the same criteria, Jordan Moore, 15, said.
as well as synchronising their “Because it was a new course, for the fi rst
timetables to ensure the smooth few weeks no-one really knew what was going
running of the course. on or where it was going. But as time wore
“I have been phenomenally on, we really got into it. Once we had been
impressed with the professional set targets, we understood how the course was
reaction of both the staff and going to evolve and what was involved.”
students,” Mr Yeates added. For Emily Bennett, the course off ers a route
“It was good to see some of into her preferred career path of fi lm editing.
our more able students She said: “I want to go into the media so it
recognise the value of was important for me to choose something
an academic and relevant to that fi eld, and which would give
vocational mix to me that experience. I think this Diploma suits
their portfolio.” my needs perfectly.” DD
32 Delivering Diplomas • Volume 1 No 1 Autumn 2009
32 blue coat.indd 12 17/9/09 19:22:24
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