More concerns at Diploma options

Diplomas mix practical and theoretical learning

England's new Diplomas can provide a commendable way to integrate academic and vocational study, MPs have said.

But they could further complicate an already complex system, need further explanation and lack wide credibility, the public accounts committee says.

The MPs say parents, employers and universities still need to be convinced Diplomas are a credible alternative.

The government agrees there is more to do. The Lib Dems say Diplomas in their existing form should be scrapped.

Among the concerns in its report, the Commons committee (PAC) said the Department for Children, Schools and Families did not know the full cost of its reforms for 14 to 19-year-olds.

It said qualifications with vocational components cost more to teach than purely academic ones.

An advanced Diploma over two years, which is equivalent to three and a half A-levels, will cost �350 more than an existing BTec National Diploma and �1,530 more than three A-levels.

Rural access

Work experience was an essential part of the Diplomas - but about 45% of the consortiums delivering the new qualifications had not involved employers in deciding how to provide it.

Another feature of the Diplomas is the need for youngsters to move between different learning centres, because the courses are too complex for any one institution.

The PAC said it wanted all consortiums to show that young people in rural communities could access good teaching and facilities, and that every effort had been made to minimise practical problems such as long travel times.

As regards the potential for confusion in the qualifications system, the PAC said young people and their parents needed comprehensive and impartial advice from those who had a good knowledge of all the options from age 14.

The inspectorate Ofsted reported recently that this was a weakness, with a lack of clarity for young people.

Some did not feel they were being made aware of all the options and some had been persuaded to stay on into their existing school sixth forms to do AS and A-levels which might not be suitable, Ofsted said.

'Serious concerns'

Schools Minister Jim Knight said: "Diplomas have been welcomed by employers, and the vast majority of universities and colleges say they will consider them for entry to courses.

"Working with our partners in local authorities, schools and colleges, we recognise there is more work to be done to provide students with the quality and flexibility of learning that employers and universities today want."

Liberal Democrat spokesman David Laws said Diplomas risked being a costly disaster.

"There are serious concerns about how poorly prepared schools are to offer the new qualifications," he said.

"Many have yet to start working with local employers and nearly half haven't ensured that they even have enough teachers who are properly trained to deliver the new qualifications.

"The government's Diplomas will complicate the already convoluted system and should be scrapped.

"Ministers should introduce a single general diploma, using the better understood GCSEs and A-levels as building blocks instead."

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