From left, Christopher White, Ryan Allen, Liam Gallery, Joshua Smalley, teacher Graham Frogley and Lewis Bryant

Julie Webb investigates the introduction of an exciting new scheme, being pioneered in Oxfordshire, offering a broader curriculum to a wider number of students For all those who feel that education at Key Stage 4 and above lacks relevance to the interests and goals of some students, September 2008 will bring the start of an exciting initiative, mixing theoretical and practical learning with workplace experience.

Oxfordshire will be one of the first education authorities to introduce elements of the 14-19 Diplomas, which will run here in two initial subject and catchment areas - engineering, based in Bicester, and creative and media, based in the Banbury area.

Students just now starting to consider their options for the next academic year will be getting information about them via campaigns on local radio, as well as the usual school and college guidance channels.

By 2013 all students in the county, and countrywide, will have access to the full range of diplomas - 17 subject areas (known as streams') each available at three different levels. This year, construction and the built environment; society, health and development; and information technology are being introduced elsewhere in the country, in addition to the two on offer in Oxfordshire.

Designed by the Sector Skills Council - a body supported by employer organisations - diplomas will run alongside the current BTEC, NVQ, GCSE and A-Level qualifications, and the very successful Young Apprenticeship scheme.

"It is an opportunity to offer a broader curriculum to a greater variety of students" says Graham Frogley, one of the teachers in the engineering diploma team.

"It will suit students who enjoy practical work and have an aptitude for the theoretical side as well. Their options will be greater at the end of their course - into the workplace or extend their education. The point is to open up progression pathways of learning - a student doing the most advanced Diploma in Engineering, for instance, will have to acquire a high degree of mathematical knowledge."

There is scope for an extended project and some specialist or other additional learning, and a requirement for English, maths and IT assessment. The Government has set a target for the enrolment of 50 per cent of students on a diploma course by 2013.

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No one institution will be responsible for the implementation of the new scheme, which will be a collaborative effort between schools, colleges and employers.

Sandra Higgs is its highly enthusiastic consultant in Oxfordshire.

"I have been a science teacher for 23 years" she said. "Nine years ago I was on the point of leaving teaching altogether because there were students I just couldn't reach. With Bicester Community College I was able to develop some alternative programmes, and I believe quite passionately that education has needed courses like the diplomas for some time - a way of exposing students to a taste of a whole lot of opportunities they might choose to focus on later, rather than giving them specific competences or teaching them to do routine jobs to a set standard. I am really proud to be in the position of making changes.

"The Foundation and Higher level courses will be available to 14 year-olds and upwards: awarding bodies will be the same as the GCSE ones, Edexcel and so on. The Foundation course will be equivalent to 4 GCSEs at D - G, and the Higher will be equivalent to 6 GCSEs. The Advanced courses, for 16 year-olds and above, will be in two forms - Progression, equivalent to two A Levels, and Full, equivalent to three," Sandra explained.

"There will be flexibility, so students can take traditional exam courses or NVQs as well. To make timetabling simpler, the diploma work will take place everywhere in Oxfordshire on the same specific days of the week."

David Holland, Chief Executive of local printing company Goodhead Group plc, is chair of the engineering stream and a member of the newly formed Diploma Employer Champions Network. Part of his role is to recruit fellow employers in Oxfordshire willing to offer students the opportunity to explore the challenges and possibilities of work in their chosen area of interest - at least ten days' work experience is built into each course.

From the employer's point of view, he said, the diplomas will have many benefits.

"It would be very helpful to our particular business, which is expanding and embracing world-class management techniques, to have an influx of people who are multi-skilled, good at team working, self-management and problem-solving - the employability' skills which form part of the diploma's core content.

"The future is with people working together across departmental boundaries to improve the working environment and its efficiency." He anticipates that the resulting stability of staffing, and high growth, will more than offset the modest costs of involvement in the scheme.

Oxfordshire has received an extra £1,000,000 of funding for new engineering facilities and other resources necessary to the success of the diplomas. At the Oxford and Cherwell Valley College in Banbury there are plans to equip a functioning newsroom as a base for the creative and media diploma.

Jackie Whitehouse leads the team responsible for the development of the course. "If they're taught right, the skills they gain from the different disciplines in this area will be transferable to the wider world. Generic skills like presentation, working with the public, putting on exhibitions.

"Students will be in a real working environment, exposed to critical analysis, having to meet deadlines and think long-term. The newsroom will look just like a real one, and students will have real responsibility and real jobs - working on a community newsletter for example. 14 year-olds have never been able to do media work before, so students will also start to benefit from an earlier age."

Sandra Higgs added: "What diplomas offer is an updating of the curriculum, something truly modern and much more relevant to young people's learning. When they embark on them, they will recognise diplomas as education that will have an impact on their future lives."

whole lot of opportunities they might choose to focus on later, rather than giving them specific competences or teaching them to do routine jobs to a set standard. I am really proud to be in the position of making changes. "The Foundation and Higher level courses will be available to 14 year-olds and upwards. Awarding bodies will be the same as the GCSE ones, Edexcel and so on. "The Foundation course will be equivalent to 4 GCSEs at D to G, and the Higher will be equivalent to 6 GCSEs. The Advanced courses, for 16 year-olds and above, will be in two forms - Progression, equivalent to two A-Levels, and Full, equivalent to three," Sandra explained. "There will be flexibility, so students can take traditional exam courses or NVQs as well. To make timetabling simpler, the diploma work will take place everywhere in Oxfordshire on the same specific days of the week." David Holland, chief executive of the Oxfordshire printing company Goodhead Group plc, is chair of the engineering stream and a member of the newly-formed Diploma Employer Champions Network. Part of his role is to recruit fellow employers in Oxfordshire willing to offer students the opportunity to explore the challenges and possibilities of work in their chosen area of interest - at least ten days' work experience is built into each course. From the employer's point of view, he said, the diplomas will have many benefits. "It would be very helpful to our particular business, which is expanding and embracing world-class management techniques, to have an influx of people who are multi-skilled, good at team-working, self-management and problem-solving - the employability' skills which form part of the diploma's core content. "The future is with people working together across departmental boundaries to improve the working environment and its efficiency." David anticipates that the resulting stability of staffing, and high growth, will more than offset the modest costs of involvement in the scheme. Oxfordshire has received an extra £1m of funding for new engineering facilities and other resources necessary to the success of the diplomas. At the Oxford and Cherwell Valley College in Banbury there are plans to equip a functioning newsroom as a base for the creative and media diploma. Jackie Whitehouse leads the team responsible for the development of the course. She said: "If they are taught right, the skills they gain from the different disciplines in this area will be transferable to the wider world. Generic skills like presentation, working with the public, putting on exhibitions. Students will be in a real working environment, exposed to critical analysis, having to meet deadlines and think long-term. "The newsroom will look just like a real one, and students will have real responsibility and real jobs - working on a community newsletter for example. Fourteen year-olds have never been able to do media work before, so students will also start to benefit from an earlier age." Sandra Higgs added: "What diplomas offer is an updating of the curriculum, something truly modern and much more relevant to young people's learning. When they embark on them, they will recognise diplomas as education that will have an impact on their future."

11:19am Monday 14th January 2008

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