The Diploma

What is a Diploma?

It’s a new qualification for 14-19 year olds that you can do at school or college.

You keep all your options open with the Diploma. You can start your study at school in year 10 and when you finish, you can stay at school or come to college and do another course – like the next level up Diploma, A levels or an NVQ. Or, go on to university, do an Apprenticeship or go into a job with training.

Because it’s been designed by employers, schools, colleges and universities, doing a Diploma is different. It means that:

1. You’ll find out about an area of work you’re interested in
2. You will get practical experience such as projects and work experience
3. You will learn life skills that are important for work study and the future
4. You can use what you learn to tackle real life situations that you could face at work, study or in research
5. You can learn in new ways and other places such as a workshop, another school or college
6. You will do lots of problem solving and project work
7. This means you get to try out your ideas in situations you would find at work, college or university
8. People like teachers, college lecturers and local businesses will be involved in your course as well as employers in the Diploma subject area you have chosen
9. You’ll be applying what you learn for real

Diploma Facts  

1. You can study a Diploma at three levels: Foundation, Higher and Advanced.
2. The Foundation Diploma is the same as 5 GCSEs at grades D to G
3. The Higher Diploma is the same as 7 GCSEs at grades A to C
4. The Advanced Diploma is the same as 3.5 A levels

The Diploma course is made up of many parts.

• Functional Skills. This is the English, Maths and ICT you need for everyday life.
• Principal Learning. This is the learning based around your chosen Diploma subject. It teaches you the main things you need to know.
• Additional and Specialist Learning. These are the options you pick. It could be related to the kind of job or university course you want to apply for or even a hobby.
• Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills. These are the skills important to work and day-to-day life. They include team working, presenting ideas, studying and organising yourself.
• Project. This is about creating and managing a project. It can be related to any topic that interests you.
• Work Experience. This is where you spend time with an employer, learning what it is like to be in the workplace.

What you can learn:

Click on the subject title below to download the information leaflet

1. Hospitality
2. Engineering
3. Construction and the Built Environment
4. Information Technology
5. Manufacturing and Product Design
6. Creative and Media
7. Society, Health and Development
8. Business, Administration and Finance
9. Hair and Beauty Studies

Want to learn more?

Then call Learner Services on 551 7777 or click here use our contact form.