Case study
Learning for life: An Engineering Diploma session
at Fareham College; while one of the consortium’s
learners gets hands-on during a work placement
Curriculum:
Engineering success
Vice-principal of Fareham College Nigel Duncan explains a project his consortium has
taken on to create a curriculum support and reference tool for the Engineering Diploma
HE ENGINEERING Diploma in motorcycle. T_h e expectation of both students considered in the breadth of the project
T
Fareham and Gosport has brought and parents is that these will also be available brief. Students, parents, employers, higher
about a mini-renaissance in the through the Diploma framework. education and industrial organisations are
popularity of engineering. T_h is is a tall order in the early stages of being consulted for their views.
No longer just the domain of those that a new curriculum, for without the student T_h e Fareham and Gosport Consortium
like a traditional metalwork programme, the numbers necessary to provide cost-eff ective currently has 42 students studying on the
perceived opportunities available through a discrete groups in each pathway, compromises Engineering Diploma all with their very own
consortium-delivered technical Engineering are inevitable. However, the project seeks career route in mind. Some may even fast-
Diploma is attracting a “new kid on the block”. to reduce the likelihood of compromise by track through Level 3 to begin their Level 4
To ensure that the product matches providing a modelling tool through which early. While unusual, the project will need to
the expectation, the complex world of multi-disciplinary routes can be planned accommodate the possibility that as Diplomas
Engineering Diploma curriculum is being without jeopardising the integrity of the establish themselves, the hidden talent of the
explored through a project at Fareham individual routes. enthusiastic young engineer could demand
College in Hampshire. T_h e college has been Is it possible, for instance, that units a faster route through the pathway to their
commissioned by the Specialist Schools and common to more than one discipline can be destination than originally envisaged – add
Academies Trust, on behalf of the Learning taught together without one dominating the duration as another dimension!
and Skills Improvement Service through the other, or without the educational visits being Included in the project will be pathway
14 to 19 Workforce Support Programme to skewed in favour of one discipline? specifi c recommendations for Additional and
carry out a research project that will ultimately By working back from the planned Specialist Learning and visits that will support
provide an online reference tool that can destination for the Diploma student, the learning, and potential sources of professional
be used to develop coherent, relevant and project plans to plot the routes the student input from industry where possible.
exciting pathways through the Engineering will need to take through the complex An interesting spin-off to the project
Diploma structure to a pre-determined pathways to reach his or her destination. could be the application of the modelling
progression destination. Understanding the dimensions that might tool for Information, Advice and Guidance,
With so many potential specialist routes be involved in any of the career routes will tutorial sessions, and to support marketing
to take, providers delivering an Engineering be important if the Diploma is going to presentations to parents, as there is always
Diploma will need to establish very clear discharge its responsibilities successfully. a need to explain where the course will take
progression routes if they are to ensure that Although in its very early stages, the project the student. If the online interactive concept
learners who join the course understand the team has begun to explore the possible comes to fruition, the project is planned
variety of destinations to which successful pathways and the best way to illustrate how to to have a beta version to test in May 2010
completion of their Diploma can take them. get from A to B. with a working version available through the
T_h e Fareham and Gosport Consortium of Dimensions such as: destination Diploma Support website in July 2010. Visit
12 schools, two colleges and three training – university, Apprenticeship, employment; www.diploma-support.org DD
providers off ers a range of engineering specialism – aerospace, marine, automotive,
pathways in aerospace, mechanical, electrical electrical; context – hi-tech, development, • Nigel Duncan is vice-principal curriculum
and electronic, marine, motor vehicle and design, armed services, are all being and quality at Fareham College.
46 Delivering Diplomas • Volume 2 No 1 Spring 2010
46-47 case study.indd 2 5/3/10 13:27:34
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