Specialised Diplomas
QCA, the Department of Children, Schools and Families and the Skills for Business Network have been working together to develop the Diploma, which is a new qualification to recognise achievement at ages 14 to 19. It combines practical skills development with theoretical and technical understanding and knowledge. Diplomas comprise different qualifications and units from various awarding bodies which have been approved for inclusion in The Diploma Catalogue. LAMDA Examinations has been awarded Component Awarding Body status, which means that our accredited Graded examinations can be put forward as a component of a Diploma.
The Diploma is designed to:
- Open up choices for young people
- Offer different ways of learning and an alternative route into higher education or employment
- Provide credible, industry-verified applied learning, linked to general learning.
The Diploma has three components:
- Principal learning – students develop knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes relevant to a sector (or sectors) and are given opportunities to apply these to work roles or situations and realistic context
- Additional/specialist learning – students choose from a range of options endorsed by employers
- Generic learning – students develop and apply the skills and knowledge necessary for learning, employment and personal development.
For the Creative and Media Diploma, LAMDA Graded examinations can be presented as evidence of both Additional and Specialist learning. For the remaining Diplomas, they can be used as evidence of Additional learning.
The Diploma is available at levels 1, 2 and 3.
In terms of average length of study:
- Level 1 Foundation Diploma is comparable to a programme of four to five GCSEs at grades D to G
- Level 2 Higher Diploma is comparable to a programme of five to six GCSEs at A* to C
- Level 3 Progression Diploma is comparable to a programme of two A levels
- Level 3 Advanced Diploma is comparable to a programme of three A levels.
There will be Diplomas for each of the 14 lines of learning as defined in the 14-19 White Paper. By 2013 there will be a national entitlement for 14 to 19-year-olds to study towards any one of the specialised Diplomas.
The role of Component Awarding Bodies (CABs) in the Diploma
In the UK the role of Component Awarding Bodies (CABs) in 2009 is to support centres and consortia in understanding the operational arrangements and Diploma processes in relation to the CAB's qualifications that contribute to the overall Diploma award
A Component Awarding Body (CAB) offers the constituent qualifications that contribute to the Diploma including the Additional and Specialist Learning (ASL). CABs will register and support centres in delivering these constituent qualifications.
CABs support centres on administration surrounding the CAB's own qualifications in the ways outlined below, once the centre has been registered by the CAB for delivery of the qualification(s) in question. It does this by:
Helping centres understand what they need to do to secure the assessment and award of a qualification. This will include communicating to the centres the administrative tasks leading up to award of the qualification and the results being entered onto the diploma aggregation service (DAS)
- Externally quality assuring the centre and its data submissions to ensure validity, accuracy, completeness and timeliness. This includes verifying the learner details referenced by the unique learner number (ULN), as far as they refer to the CAB.
- Supplying results data to the diploma aggregation service (DAS) within 10 days of qualifications being awarded in accordance with agreed service levels and commercial terms
- Verifying the relevant prior achievement of Diploma learners for the constituent qualifications they offer and updating DAS within 10 days of verifying a prior learning request
- Investigating cases of missing results with centres, where the learner and their qualification are known on DAS and to the CAB
- Working with centres and relevant DABs to ensure DAS holds all relevant constituent qualification results for learners receiving a Diploma award in 2009
- Clarifying the timescales and requirements for enquiries or appeals, and handling them
CABs will provide advice, guidance and support to centres on the above topics through their normal channels of support.
CABs will also support centres on curriculum related issues, including providing guidance in curriculum planning and ensuring standards.
Additional and Specialist Learning (ASL)
For learners the subjects you choose as part of the Additional and Specialist Learning offer the opportunity to study a particular topic in more depth or to study something different that widens your experience. Additional and Specialist Learning will broaden your horizons and help to open up different opportunities in future study and employment.
Sourced from www.ofqual.gov.uk