Diploma roll-out marks wider educational change
Back to school - this year, big changes are underway
Wednesday, 03, Sep 2008 02:00
Pupils starting secondary school today are the first who will not leave compulsory education until they are 17.
From 2013 the leaving age will be increased from its current post-GCSE level before being raised even further to 18 years, in 2015.
The move is planned by the government in the coming education and skills bill, expected for the next parliamentary session.
As pupils return after the summer break vocational diplomas will be taught in nearly three-quarters of schools and the vast majority of colleges.
Specialist diplomas will also be developed as an alternative to A-levels. Exam and university admission chiefs plan on making the highest-level diplomas equivalent to 3.5 A-levels or 420 tariff points.
The first diplomas will be offered in subjects like environmental and land-based studies, business, administration and finance.
The news comes as children experience delays wvgetting their education maintenance allowances.
Shadow children's secretary Michael Gove said: "The government seems unable to administer relatively straightforward tasks and thousands of teenagers now face uncertainty about whether they will get their allowances for staying on at school."
Liberal Democrat childrens spokesman David Laws said: "After the shambolic mismanagement of the SATs, this is yet another example of an outside company making an utter mess of delivering an important service to students."