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Diploma in Public Services

Diplomas are a new qualification for young people that will be delivered in schools, colleges and other educational institutions in England. A key aspect of the Government's reform programme for 14 to 19 year olds, they provide young people with a rounded education that also prepares them for the world of work.

The Diploma in Public Services will be available through selected providers from September 2010 and will be offered to all 14 to 19 year olds in England from 2013. It will give students a way into a range of careers in the public sector, including central and local government, the health service, the Armed Forces, the emergency services, the justice system and voluntary organisations. It can also facilitate progression into further or higher education.

The diploma is available at Foundation, Higher and Advanced levels.

• Foundation level – equivalent to 4 to 5 GCSEs
• Higher level – equivalent to 7 GCSEs
• Advanced level – equivalent to 3 A levels

Government Skills worked to develop the content for the three levels with Skills for Health, Skills for Justice, Skills Plus, Asset Skills, Lifelong Learning UK, the Council for Administration and the Management Standards Centre.

Each level includes the components set out below.

• Principal learning – provides the skills, knowledge and understanding relevant to the public services sector
• Additional and specialist learning – allows learners to specialise further in the area of public services or to pursue broader areas of study that complement the principal learning
• Generic learning – covers functional skills in maths, English and information and communication technology, in addition to personal, learning and thinking skills, and 10 days of work experience.

There are also plans to develop an Extended Diploma at each level, for learners wishing to do more in-depth and independent study.

The second phase of developing the diploma is now well underway. The criteria, which sets out in detail the knowledge, skills and understanding required of learners at Levels 1, 2 and 3 has recently been published and will be used by awarding bodies to develop the mandatory principal learning elements.

For more information see Results of Line of Learning Criteria consultation.

Next steps for the Diploma Development Partnership include:

• reviewing awarding body submissions
• developing the additional and specialist learning
• designing the assessment criteria for the Gateway process and employer and higher education sector engagement.

For further information please contact:

• Christine Flower – 0203 300 8964