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Diplomas to challenge A-levels Diplomas 'could replace A-levels'
(about 1 hour later)
Diplomas could become the "qualification of choice", says the Schools Secretary Ed Balls, raising the prospect they will replace A-levels. Diplomas could replace A-levels as the "qualification of choice" in England, says Schools Secretary Ed Balls.
Mr Balls has announced new diplomas in academic subject areas, science, languages and the humanities, for 14-19 year olds in England. He announced three new diplomas in academic subject areas - science, languages and humanities - adding to the 14 planned vocational subjects.
The NUT teachers' union says this is a "fundamental change of heart". Mr Balls also pushed back a planned review of A-levels from 2008 to 2013 to give the diplomas time to bed down.
Mr Balls says that there is no "pre-judged" assumption that A-levels will disappear. He stopped short of predicting A-levels would disappear but would not guarantee their future after the review.
Balancing act Diplomas, a new type of qualification intended to bridge the divide between academic and vocational learning, are to be introduced from next year, in a limited range of subjects.
But he said he could not give any guarantees about their future beyond a review in six years. If diplomas are successfully introduced and are delivering the mix that employers and universities value, they could be come the qualification of choice for young people Ed BallsSchools Secretary
The Conservatives' schools spokesman, Michael Gove, accused Mr Balls of "subverting" GCSEs and A-levels and "undermining academic excellence". But critics have complained their focus on vocational subject areas, such as information technology and hair and beauty, and the fact that they are to run alongside A-levels mean they could be seen as second-class qualifications.
Mr Balls sought to strengthen the diplomas while re-assuring parents and teachers that the "gold standard" A-level would not be scrapped in the immediate future.
He told an audience of educationalists and industry leaders at the CBI conference in London that it had been argued that diplomas could only be a success if A-levels and GCSEs were abolished.
"This is not the government's view and not a matter for us to pre-judge.
"If diplomas are successfully introduced and are delivering the mix that employers and universities value, they could be come the qualification of choice for young people.
"But, because GCSEs and A-levels are long established and valued qualifications, that should not be decided by any pre-emptive Government decision but by the demands of young people, schools and colleges."
The future of A-levels remains uncertainThe future of A-levels remains uncertain
Diplomas, a new type of qualification intended to bridge the divide between academic and vocational learning, are to be introduced from next year, initially in a limited range of vocational subjects. He was accompanied by a string of university, college and industry representatives and 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.
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. Sir Mike backed the government's move saying he had always envisioned the replacement of A-levels as an "evolution not a revolution" likely to take about 10 years.
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.
But he emphasised that he had rejected plans for a rapid end to A-levels.
"A number of people have said that diplomas can't work unless we end A-levels and GCSEs, that's not the view we are taking. We will have a review of all qualifications in 2013 - I'm not going to give you any guarantee about the outcome."
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'
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".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.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 - and there were warnings from the previous education secretary that the diplomas could go "horribly wrong".The success of diplomas will depend on how they are recognised by employers and universities - and there were warnings from the previous education secretary that the diplomas could go "horribly wrong".
'Subverting GCSEs'
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".
The Shadow School Secretary Michael Gove said: "Diplomas were supposed to be about improving vocational education not undermining academic excellence. We support the reform of vocational learning but these new exams announced today are designed to subvert GCSEs and A-levels." The Shadow School Secretary Michael Gove accused the government of subverting GCSEs and A-levels.
The Liberal Democrat schools spokesman, David Laws, said that announcement reflected the government's fears over diplomas. "Diplomas were supposed to be about improving vocational education not undermining academic excellence."
Liberal Democrat schools spokesman David Laws said the announcement reflected the government's fears over diplomas.
"There is widespread scepticism in schools about whether they will be popular amongst students," said Mr Laws."There is widespread scepticism in schools about whether they will be popular amongst students," said Mr Laws.
The diplomas announced on Tuesday will be piloted from 2011.The diplomas announced on Tuesday will be piloted from 2011.
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.