Government announces 6,800 places available on the first ever society, health and development diploma

SkillsActive - 03/04/07

The new Diploma - which has been developed by Skills for Health in partnership with the Children’s Workforce Network – led by SkillsActive, Skills for Justice and Skills for Care is driven by the sectors’ employers.  A few examples of which are after school clubs, schools, children’s nurseries, the probation service and hospital play specialists.

Achieving a diploma in society, health and development will help a young person progress to a range of degree courses, including those in health, care, justice and the children’s workforce. It will also provide young people with the skills and knowledge to go into a large number of apprenticeships and jobs.

The new qualification will ensure students have an excellent grasp of English, Maths and IT skills, whilst understanding how they relate to the sector context.  Students will learn a range of skills, for example understanding the importance of children and young people’s development. The diploma is unique in it’s development of personal learning and thinking skills encouraging the young person to reflect on their learning and develop their problem solving techniques.

A minimum of 10 days’ work experience will also provide students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge, while individual project work will encourage initiative.  In the Society Health and Development Diploma the Level 3 has the requirement for 20 days in at least 2 of the areas of employment.

Minister for Schools and 14-19 Learners, Jim Knight, said:
“This is an exciting time for education and skills and for the schools and colleges whose local students will be the first people to benefit from these brand new qualifications. 

Diplomas are a radical step forward, combining the best of theoretical and applied learning. They will give students more choices, provide employers with the knowledge and skills we need to make the country more competitive, and offer universities students who are motivated to academic learning through work-related skills. The first Diplomas are now taking shape and the programme is on target to deliver the rest”.

Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Alan Johnson, added:

“Diplomas will be an attractive and flexible option for young people. They are just one part of our plans to encourage more young people to stay in education and training. With fewer low-skilled jobs, we need more high-skilled young people. Diplomas will provide the missing link - creating the mix of vocational and academic education which we’ve lacked for so long. Their introduction is one of the most radical educational developments taking place anywhere in the world and we are putting funding, energy and commitment into making them a reality.”

Paul Bonel, SkillsActive said:

“This is the first time employers and government have worked so closely to develop such a qualification.  When available, its content will have been agreed and accredited by the employers within these sectors.  Content is being developed by Diploma Development Partnerships (DDPs) made up of stakeholders across education, government and business

The children’s workforce network are supporting the diploma as an integral part of the workforce reform being carried out through Every Child Matters”.

£90 million of central funding will help regional consortia to work up the detail of the new qualifications in each area. Ten consortia have been approved to deliver Diplomas in all five subject areas from 2008.

More infomation can be found on the society, health and development pages of the site.