Case study
Consortium:
Diploma Support
CathGreen and RosieGriffiths give a consortium-wide picture on their progress in implementing the
Diploma in Creative and Media and how the Diploma Support Programme has helped
he ellesmere Port and
T
Neston consortium is based in
Cheshire West and is made up
of three specialist schools, one
further education college, and six employers
all working together to offer the Diploma in
Creative and media to students aged 14 to 19.
We wanted to become a consortium and
offer the Diploma as we felt it gave us an
opportunity to develop our collaborative
provision across a range of partners. We knew
that this was going to be one of our biggest
challenges from the outset: to ensure that the
Diploma was offered and delivered in true
collaboration.
We invested a lot of time in developing our
partnership through half-termly meetings,
which were attended by named individuals
from each school and college, employers, school can offer the Diploma, even if only one During the spring term of 2008, we
the local manager for 14 to 19, curriculum or two of their students want to take one. developed a pilot project with Action
SSAT Diploma
deputies, the education Business Partnership, Although we applied to go through the Transport Theatre to test out some of our
Connexions, the Creative Industries support Gateway to begin delivering in 2008, we ideas and working relationships. This involved
Project, and Functional skills specialists as were not successful and had to address certain students attending different sites on a weekly
and when they were needed. aspects before a 2009 start. It was vital that basis and culminated in a two-week residency
We began in October 2006 by completing we maintained our focus and enthusiasm and with Action Transport. here students set up
an audit of facilities, resources and specialist this was helped by the training and support their own company, wrote and performed
Support Programme
teachers. We wanted to ensure that as students given by the Diploma support Programme. a play, marketed the performance, and
move between different sites, the highest As a line lead, I found this training helped me evaluated the whole process. This project
quality of provision is maintained. to establish milestones to aim for and gave provided us with invaluable feedback from
We decided early on that we should all everyone common goals. On reflection, the each partner, from Action Transport, and
input into every unit and that all students later 2009 start date gave us the time to further importantly from the students. This work has
should have the opportunity to both develop develop working relationships and to plan heavily informed our future planning.
existing skills and be challenged to try new pilot projects. With support from the Diploma support
ones. We planned and wrote each of the unit By pooling our employer contacts, we were Programme and their consultant, we have
assignments in collaboration and this gave able to visit and meet with local experts in been able to address major concerns of the
every practitioner the invaluable experience of the creative and media area and engage them consortium and to have a “healthcheck”
sharing practice, knowledge and resources. in the planning and development of our before beginning delivery to ensure that all of
Devising ways in which to make the Diploma units. employers will be crucial in our project briefs and planning was complete.
delivery of the Diploma work in a multi-site ensuring that all of our units have a real- All we need now are the students! DD
model was our next challenge. Feedback life outcome. For instance, for some units,
posted on the Diploma forum indicated that employers have set briefs for students, other • Cath Green and Rosie Griffiths are from the
senior staff needed to be on board to make employers have taken the opportunity to Ellesmere Port and Neston consortium.
this work, so the headteachers decided that be guest speakers to explain their company
we would design a common timetable of core roles and responsibilities, and some are Further information
and option days across ellesmere Port and leading specialist workshops or hosting work Diploma support Programme: www.diploma-
Neston. By using a common timetable, each placements.
support.org
46 Delivering Diplomas • Volume 1 No 1 Autumn 2009
46-47 ssat.indd 12 18/9/09 10:46:37
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