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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Diplomas to challenge A-levels | Diplomas to challenge A-levels |
| (9 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. |
| Balancing act | Balancing act |
| 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 the "gold standard" of 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 the "gold standard" of academic A-levels - raising an expectation that this is a push towards diplomas incorporating or replacing A-levels. |
| 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 their future 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 their future 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. | |
| He was also accompanied by Sir Mike Tomlinson, who had been the architect in 2004 of a previous proposal for a single qualification, combining GCSEs, A-levels and vocational exams. | |
| 'Fundamentally wrong' | 'Fundamentally wrong' |
| But the National Union of Teachers saw the announcement as a clear reversal by the government, showing that the "decision to ditch Tomlinson's 14-19 reform proposals was fundamentally wrong". | But the National Union of Teachers saw the announcement as a clear reversal by the government, showing that the "decision to ditch Tomlinson's 14-19 reform proposals was fundamentally wrong". |
| Sir Mike is now to join a panel of experts, including representatives from industry and higher education, who will advise on the design of the new qualifications. | |
| The success of diplomas will depend on how they are recognised by employers and universities. | The success of diplomas will depend on how they are recognised by employers and universities. |
| If universities continue to use A-level results for their admissions, then the new qualifications will be much less attractive to schools and pupils. | If universities continue to use A-level results for their admissions, then the new qualifications will be much less attractive to schools and pupils. |
| The universities organisation, Universities UK, stressed that the new qualifications will need to "genuinely provide an appropriate progression route on to higher education". | The universities organisation, Universities UK, stressed that the new qualifications will need to "genuinely provide an appropriate progression route on to higher education". |
| A statement from the Russell Group, representing leading universities, also cautioned that "we are concerned to ensure that the diploma sufficiently equips candidates with the skills and knowledge they need to flourish on our courses". | A statement from the Russell Group, representing leading universities, also cautioned that "we are concerned to ensure that the diploma sufficiently equips candidates with the skills and knowledge they need to flourish on our courses". |
| 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. | 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. | All of the diploma qualifications will include a basic skills element, in English, maths and information technology. |