Fears raised over new diplomas plan

Shropshire’s headteachers have raised concerns over red tape and poor planning surrounding the introduction of the Government’s new flagship qualifications.

The diplomas for 14 to 19 year olds will combine general vocational education with more academic skills and provide an alternative to the traditional GCSE or A-level routes. But many heads believe that poor planning is forcing them to do extra work.

According to the Government, diplomas will give young people a fully rounded qualification through a mix of classroom learning, creative thinking and hands-on experience.

They are being introduced in 17 different subject areas between now and 2013 and will be equivalent to seven-and-a half GCSEs.

But what many heads in the county see as bureaucracy and poor planning is causing anxiety and an excessive amount of work for them and senior members of staff.

For example, during the next academic year more than 20 working days will be spent by senior staff from Shrewsbury schools working together on an application to teach the diplomas.

Headteacher of the Priory School, in Shrewsbury, Candy Garbett feels particularly strongly that the introduction of the diplomas has not been thought through.

She said: “We have an amazing group of advisors working with us at Shropshire County Council on the introduction of the new 14-19 curriculum, but trying to apply the model in a rural authority is fraught with difficulties not least because of transporting students from one venue to another and the ongoing costs.”

Mrs Garbett, who is also co-ordinator of the Shropshire Secondary Heads Association, added: “One of the biggest constraints will be on what student’s experience each day in terms of their timetable.

“Because of the requirements for the new diploma qualifications, all students will find that they have to study their core subjects, such as English, maths, science, PE, ICT and PSHE, on three days.

“This has massive implications not just for individual students but also for employing part-time members of staff.”

Shropshire’s first pilot diploma scheme will be launched in September.

By Dave Morris