Colleges lead the way with new diploma

Last updated 17:16, Monday, 29 September 2008

LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS: Frank Cairns, lecturer in construction and the built environment, teaches diploma students Ben Colman and Reece Palfreeman at Furness CollegeJOE RILEY REF: 0448437

THE new Diploma qualifications finally got under way in September, giving students in Furness the chance to be among the first young people in the country to work towards the GCSE and A-Level alternatives.

Furness is one of only 10 places in the country to offer all five of the first Diplomas.

Engineering, information technology, and construction and the built environment, are being taught at Furness College.

Barrow Sixth Form College is delivering the creative and media course plus society, health and development.

The courses are described as a flexible programme which combines academic and practical learning.

They have a work focus and have been developed with employers so young people are better equipped for the work place.

The subjects are taught by tutors from the colleges and some teachers from secondary schools.

This year there is a pre-16 group studying each of the five subjects.

There are six Year 10 groups studying for the Foundation and Higher courses. Pupils also study for GCSES and the core National curriculum subjects at school.

There are 78 14-year-olds going to college two days a week to study the Diploma.

Each diploma has an A*. The Foundation is worth five GCSEs, grades D-G, the Higher is seven A* to Cs.

There are about 30 Advanced Diploma students taking society, health and development and IT this year. The Advanced level is worth three and a half A-Levels.

Dave Green, the Furness Diploma manager, said: “The atmosphere is great at both colleges. It’s a very exciting time.

“In Furness we really are at the cutting edge of Diploma development.

“The partnership between the schools and colleges means we have the best teachers coming forward to deliver the Diplomas, and we have fantastic resources at the colleges.

“With the experience of the schools and colleges these young people are going to have a really great learning experience, and it’s key to keep the young people at the centre of that.

“The idea of the programme is to engage and enthuse the students.”