It's an exciting time to be involved in education: learning for 14-19 year olds is being transformed. The changes, which started in 2008, are being rolled out in stages.

There are three main elements to the changes:

• raising attainment through curriculum reform
• developing new qualifications
• developing support resources and strategies to support the changes.

A new National Curriculum is being introduced that focuses on the qualities and skills learners need to succeed in school and beyond. It offers schools more opportunities to personalise learning for young people and chances to progress at their own rate through the Key Stages. 

Existing courses are being reformed; new GCSEs subjects such as Agriculture, Land & Environment, and Construction & the Built Environment are being introduced and many GCSE coursework components have been withdrawn. Personal learning and thinking skills (PLTS) are being embedded in all subjects across the curriculum

From 2008 young people can study Diplomas; new qualifications that offer a blend of general education and applied practical learning. They can also work towards Functional Skills qualifications. These are practical skills in maths, English and ICT.

A number of dedicated programmes are being introduced including:

• The Key Stage 4 Engagement Programme (14-16)

This is a tailored programme for young people of all abilities, with significant Work Based Learning and personal support for those young people in danger of disengaging with school

• The Foundation Learning Tier

This is a Level 1 and entry level programme. It has 3 strands: skills for life and work; vocational and subject based learning: personal and social development. It provides progression to level 2 programmes

To help young people make decisions about which courses to follow, each local authority has produced an on-line, searchable data base of all 14-19 courses in its area, including Work Based Training. The Somerset 14-19 area Prospectus can be found at:

http://www.movingonmovingup.co.uk/ 

Diplomas

The introduction of Diplomas has been described as the most important change to the country’s education system since the introduction of GCSEs. Some people disagree and say that should be the biggest change in the last 50 years!

What makes the diplomas so different? Firstly their content – this has been developed by sector skills councils and a wide range of employers as well as by educationalists. Secondly, they contain prescribed amounts of applied learning to be taught by experienced practitioners in realistic work situations. Thirdly, to ensure the highest standard of delivery they may only be taught by a partnership of schools, colleges, work based trainers and employers pooling their expertise and resources. Each partnership must pass a quality assurance process known as the Gateway before it may offer diplomas. From 2013, all young people will be entitled to study a diploma, even if it is not offered at their home school or college.

Diplomas are being introduced in a phased programme and will eventually be available in 17 subjects, known as lines of learning.

Diploma Delivery in Somerset

Dates indicate when delivery commenced/will commence. Brackets () indicate that the local 14-19 partnership has been approved to deliver this qualification subject to meeting DCSF qualifications   

All diplomas have the same outline structure:  

Diplomas will be available at 3 academic levels:

• Foundation Diploma: equivalent in size and level of difficulty to 5 GCSEs at grades D to G
• Higher Diploma: equivalent in size and level of difficulty to 7 GCSEs at grades A* to C
• Advanced Diploma: equivalent in size and level of difficulty to 3 ½  A levels (a progression diploma  equivalent to 2 ½  A levels will also be available)

Extended Diplomas will be introduced in 2011. These will feature a strengthened core of English and maths at all levels. The foundation and higher extended diplomas will also incorporate more of the national curriculum core e.g. science. The advanced, extended diploma will have extra additional/specialised learning and offer greater opportunity for research-intensive, independent study. They will be equivalent to 4.5 A levels at the Advanced level, 9 GCSEs at the Higher level and 7 GCSEs at the Foundation level.