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| Diplomas to challenge A-levels | Diplomas to challenge A-levels |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Diplomas could become the "qualification of choice", says the Schools Secretary Ed Balls, raising the prospect they will replace A-levels. | Diplomas could become the "qualification of choice", says the Schools Secretary Ed Balls, raising the prospect they will replace A-levels. |
| Mr Balls has announced new diplomas in academic subject areas - science, languages and the humanities - for 14-19 year olds in England. | Mr Balls has announced new diplomas in academic subject areas - science, languages and the humanities - for 14-19 year olds in England. |
| The NUT teachers' union says this is a "fundamental change of heart". | The NUT teachers' union says this is a "fundamental change of heart". |
| But Mr Balls says that there is no "pre-judged" assumption that A-levels will disappear. | But Mr Balls says that there is no "pre-judged" assumption that A-levels will disappear. |
| Diplomas, a new type of qualification intended to bridge the divide between academic and vocational learning, are to be initially introduced from next year, in a limited range of vocational subjects. | Diplomas, a new type of qualification intended to bridge the divide between academic and vocational learning, are to be initially introduced from next year, in a limited range of vocational subjects. |
| However the diplomas announced on Tuesday are in the areas that have traditionally been associated with academic A-levels - raising an expectation that this is a push towards diplomas incorporating or replacing A-levels. | However the diplomas announced on Tuesday are in the areas that have traditionally been associated with academic A-levels - raising an expectation that this is a push towards diplomas incorporating or replacing A-levels. |
| Balancing act | |
| But speaking at the CBI's conference centre in London, Mr Balls sought to balance the strengthening of the new diploma qualification with reassurance that the A-level is not under immediate threat. | But speaking at the CBI's conference centre in London, Mr Balls sought to balance the strengthening of the new diploma qualification with reassurance that the A-level is not under immediate threat. |
| "If diplomas are successfully introduced and are delivering the mix that employers and universities value, they could become the qualification of choice for young people," said Mr Balls. | "If diplomas are successfully introduced and are delivering the mix that employers and universities value, they could become the qualification of choice for young people," said Mr Balls. |
| But he emphasised that he had rejected plans to remove A-levels - saying that it would depend on how both sets of qualifications were valued in five years. | But he emphasised that he had rejected plans to remove A-levels - saying that it would depend on how both sets of qualifications were valued in five years. |
| It is "not a matter for us to pre-judge," said Mr Balls, speaking alongside representatives of employers and universities - and Sir Mike Tomlinson, who had been the architect of a previous proposal for a single qualification. | It is "not a matter for us to pre-judge," said Mr Balls, speaking alongside representatives of employers and universities - and Sir Mike Tomlinson, who had been the architect of a previous proposal for a single qualification. |
| The introduction of these subject-based diplomas, which will be available from 2011, was seen by the National Union of Teachers as a reversal of the government's decision not to adopt the Tomlinson plan to bring together A-levels with vocational exams. | |
| The announcement shows that the "decision to ditch Tomlinson's 14-19 reform proposals was fundamentally wrong," says the NUT's general secretary, Steve Sinnott. | |
| There have already been 14 diploma qualifications announced, with the first five - construction and the built environment, creative and media, engineering, information technology and society, health and development - beginning in autumn 2008. | |
| All of the diploma qualifications will include a basic skills element, in English, maths and information technology. |