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General GCSE Diploma idea dropped General GCSE Diploma idea dropped
(3 days later)
The government has quietly scrapped its plan for a General Diploma recognising GCSE achievement by England's teenagers, BBC News has learnt.The government has quietly scrapped its plan for a General Diploma recognising GCSE achievement by England's teenagers, BBC News has learnt.
The General Diploma would have gone to those achieving five A*-C grade GCSEs including English and maths.The General Diploma would have gone to those achieving five A*-C grade GCSEs including English and maths.
The unannounced change follows concerns raised by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA).The unannounced change follows concerns raised by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA).
It felt the focus on GCSEs might have "an adverse effect" on the work-related Diplomas ministers are promoting.It felt the focus on GCSEs might have "an adverse effect" on the work-related Diplomas ministers are promoting.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families confirmed: "We will not be taking forward the General Diploma in 2009."The Department for Children, Schools and Families confirmed: "We will not be taking forward the General Diploma in 2009."
A spokeswoman said: "The expanded Diploma programme at Level 2 - now 17 Diplomas planned by 2011 - will offer a more comprehensive alternative to recognise the broad achievement of young people."A spokeswoman said: "The expanded Diploma programme at Level 2 - now 17 Diplomas planned by 2011 - will offer a more comprehensive alternative to recognise the broad achievement of young people."
This refers to the recent surprise announcement by Schools Secretary Ed Balls that as well as the planned Diplomas in 14 employment areas such as hairdressing and IT, there would be three "academic" ones.This refers to the recent surprise announcement by Schools Secretary Ed Balls that as well as the planned Diplomas in 14 employment areas such as hairdressing and IT, there would be three "academic" ones.
These are to be in science, humanities and languages, starting in some areas by 2011.These are to be in science, humanities and languages, starting in some areas by 2011.
EncouragementEncouragement
The General Diploma was one of the headlines from the government's response in 2005 to the Tomlinson inquiry into 14-19 learning, which had recommended overarching diplomas to replace existing qualifications.The General Diploma was one of the headlines from the government's response in 2005 to the Tomlinson inquiry into 14-19 learning, which had recommended overarching diplomas to replace existing qualifications.
The government did announce new diplomas, but also said GCSEs (and A-levels) would stay.The government did announce new diplomas, but also said GCSEs (and A-levels) would stay.
It reinforced this commitment in its White Paper and set out the details in its implementation plan.It reinforced this commitment in its White Paper and set out the details in its implementation plan.
This said every young person should have a choice of routes through a broad education:This said every young person should have a choice of routes through a broad education:
  • general qualifications, including a new 'General Diploma', to be awarded to those young people achieving the equivalent of 5 A*-C grade GCSEs including English and maths,
  • new, employer-designed 'specialised Diplomas' "which will develop young people's knowledge, understanding and skills through a mixture of general and applied education.
  • general qualifications, including a new 'General Diploma', to be awarded to those young people achieving the equivalent of 5 A*-C grade GCSEs including English and maths,
  • new, employer-designed 'specialised Diplomas' "which will develop young people's knowledge, understanding and skills through a mixture of general and applied education.
Subsequently talk of "specialised" Diplomas was dropped - they became simply Diplomas.Subsequently talk of "specialised" Diplomas was dropped - they became simply Diplomas.
And now the General Diploma has vanished altogether.And now the General Diploma has vanished altogether.
English and mathsEnglish and maths
The implementation plan also said: "Only with A*-C grade GCSEs in English and maths will they be able to achieve the new General Diploma standard, which will become the new, higher benchmark of performance and will be reported in the Achievement and Attainment tables from 2006."The implementation plan also said: "Only with A*-C grade GCSEs in English and maths will they be able to achieve the new General Diploma standard, which will become the new, higher benchmark of performance and will be reported in the Achievement and Attainment tables from 2006."
That benchmark remains in the tables - with the next set due to be published in a few weeks' time.That benchmark remains in the tables - with the next set due to be published in a few weeks' time.
And it does not appear that the emphasis on English and maths is being weakened.And it does not appear that the emphasis on English and maths is being weakened.
The schools department has confirmed that youngsters will still have to study English and maths GCSEs, even though so-called "functional skills" are a core aspect of every Diploma.The schools department has confirmed that youngsters will still have to study English and maths GCSEs, even though so-called "functional skills" are a core aspect of every Diploma.
The spokeswoman said: "A Diploma student would need to achieve English and maths GCSEs in addition to their functional skills to count against the 5A*-C indicator including English and maths."The spokeswoman said: "A Diploma student would need to achieve English and maths GCSEs in addition to their functional skills to count against the 5A*-C indicator including English and maths."
'Disastrous''Disastrous'
The QCA's concern had surfaced in minutes of a board meeting last year.The QCA's concern had surfaced in minutes of a board meeting last year.
Its director of qualifications and skills, Mary Curnock Cook, "outlined a number of concerns about the General Diploma, and in particular that the General Diploma might have an adverse effect on the uptake, status and credibility of the Specialised Diploma."Its director of qualifications and skills, Mary Curnock Cook, "outlined a number of concerns about the General Diploma, and in particular that the General Diploma might have an adverse effect on the uptake, status and credibility of the Specialised Diploma."
The BBC News website sought a copy of the paper she had produced on the subject but our Freedom of Information Act request was rejected.The BBC News website sought a copy of the paper she had produced on the subject but our Freedom of Information Act request was rejected.
The leader of the National Union of Teachers, Steve Sinnott, was critical of the General Diploma when it was announced.The leader of the National Union of Teachers, Steve Sinnott, was critical of the General Diploma when it was announced.
He said of its demise: "Well let's celebrate and dance on its grave.He said of its demise: "Well let's celebrate and dance on its grave.
"Of all the disastrous government decisions post the Tomlinson report the establishment of a two-track academic diploma on one side and a vocational diploma on the other was the worst."Of all the disastrous government decisions post the Tomlinson report the establishment of a two-track academic diploma on one side and a vocational diploma on the other was the worst.
"The net consequence was to midentify a group of young people in every secondary school who despite their achievements against their personal potential would have been deemed to have failed against the new qualifications.""The net consequence was to midentify a group of young people in every secondary school who despite their achievements against their personal potential would have been deemed to have failed against the new qualifications."