The 14-19 Diplomas

The 14-19 Education and Skills White Paper (DfES: Feb 2005) set out the Government's proposals to improve secondary, further and higher education. Key to these changes is the introduction of specialised Diplomas. These will be available in fourteen lines of learning covering all sectors of the economy.

The Society, Health and Development Diploma is one of the first five Diplomas. The initial wave of teaching starts in September 2008 and by 2013 all young people will be entitled to study for the Diploma.

The Diploma has been developed in partnership by Skills Active, Skills for Care, Skills for Health and Skills for Justice.

Purpose of the Diplomas

The purpose of the Diplomas is to provide qualifications that will deliver an exciting, stretching and relevant programme of learning for all young people. Each Diploma will have pathways to accommodate a wide range of aspirations. They are being designed to appeal to the most capable students preparing for the most demanding university courses, to students who would engage better with the innovative diploma approach than with existing provision, and to students planning to enter the workforce directly from their diploma studies.

Diplomas will give young people a real alternative to traditional learning styles by offering an imaginative, high quality blend of general education and applied learning. Diplomas will take a young person wherever they want to go, whether that is to further or higher education or to the world of work.

Above all, the 14-19 Diplomas will help young people of all abilities to realise their potential. Students need the education to thrive in a constantly changing global economy; the Diploma brings together employers and educators to help prepare students for life and work.

Each Diploma is aimed at all ability levels and will be available at:

Level 1 (Foundation) - equivalent to 4-5 GCSEs

Level 2 (Higher) - equivalent to 7 good GCSEs

Level 3 (Advanced) - equivalent to 3.5 A Levels

The Diploma will ‘stretch' all young people through academic learning in schools/colleges combined with applied learning in a work context. Students will acquire a broad range of functional and personal skills which will be directly relevant to further study and employment.

The Diploma will have a mandatory content of generic learning, which includes functional English, Mathematics, and ICT, a period of work experience, and a project.

The applied learning element has been developed in consultation with employers and learning providers. Personal learning and thinking skills-which enable young people to become successful and confident learners and responsible citizens-are embedded in the Diploma.

At Level 3 the young person can choose an endorsed pathway leading to the SHD Diploma, which demonstrates that he or she has undertaken specialist study specific to the sector and is ready for onward progression into employment, Apprenticeship, or further study.

Those who achieve the Diploma will have knowledge and experience of the Social Care, Children and Young People's Workforce, Health, and Community Justice sectors and how they work, and will have a range of career opportunities open to them.

The success of Diplomas depends on partners working together