The Diploma in Public Services

The Diploma in Public Services is an exciting new qualification...

 It will be available in some schools and colleges in England from September 2010, and will be available throughout England from 2013.

The Diploma is aimed at 14-19 year olds, and has been designed in collaboration with Public Service employers and Higher Education Institutions.  This is to make sure that it is widely recognised by both employers and further and higher education institutions as a highly valuable combination of skills, knowledge and attitudes.

The Diploma does not replace existing qualifications like GCSEs, A levels and Apprenticeships.  It can combine elements of all of these through the Additional and Specialist Learning component.  Students taking the Foundation or Higher level Diplomas at 14 will study compusory subjects alongside it so, for example, they will still do separate English, maths, science and PE.  The Diploma qualification will be different from existing subjects in the way it is taught, enabling learners to develop and apply their knowledge and skills in a practical context.

This exciting qualification provides learners with new and challenging opportunities to develop their skills through different styles of learning in different settings, often outside of the classroom in a more adult environment.

The Diploma Employer Champion Network commissioned a new survey of 15 year olds which found

• 70% would work harder if studies were linked to employment
• 78% believe work-related study can help land their ideal job
• 60% of respondents agree that undertaking work experience had given them a better understanding of what future employers would expect of the workplace

Jackie Orme, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) commented on the poll findings "Diplomas are a major part of ensuring that tomorrow's talent is ready and able for the workplace. That's why CIPD is putting its weight behind these qualifications. We see Diplomas as helping to develop the talent and capability of young people from an early stage. Diplomas are about communicating important skills and knowledge in new and exciting ways, including the basic skills of numeracy and literacy. They help develop a backbone of employability skills, the skills employers tell us they need more than ever. Employers welcome this and were involved at the outset in the design of the Diploma programme.

The recent survey of 859 HR managers shows that employers see Diplomas as crucial and want to play their part in the delivery as well

• 71% agree that Diplomas present a useful new route into employment for young people
• 65% agree that Diplomas will increase the employability skills of 14-19 year olds
• 68% agree that Diplomas are a welcome addition to existing qualifications
• 63% agree that their organisation would be prepared to consider taking young people on for ten days' work experience as part of their Diploma"