Wakefield College responds to Government 14-19 reforms

Collaborative work between Wakefield College and its partners on the government’s 14-19 agenda is continuing to go from strength to strength and is now the driving force behind the implementation of the new Diplomas.

The College is leading the way on seven of the new Diploma lines - qualifications for 14-19 year olds which are seen as an alternative to GCSEs and A levels. From this September, students within Wakefield will have the opportunity to study a Diploma in IT, Hospitality, Hair and Beauty, Creative and Media, and Construction and the Built environment across the district, with school children studying Hospitality at Wakefield College’s specialist facilities at Margaret Street. As these and the remaining Diplomas - in Business Administration and Finance, Engineering, Society Health and Development, Manufacturing, Land based and Environment, Retail, Travel and Tourism, Public Services, and Sport and Active Leisure, roll out, the College will be playing a significant role in their development and delivery from September 2010.

Wakefield College 14-16 Manager Kay Shaw, said, “Wakefield College has a huge role to play within the educational landscape of the District over the coming months. Not only have we set up hugely successful collaborative programmes with key partners, we are now leading the way with the introduction of the new Diplomas.

Progression rates in post-16 education within Wakefield are below the regional average; by building closer working relationships with local schools and offering students a variety of pathways incorporating both vocational and academic routes at all levels, we can hopefully increase the number of students staying on in further education. This will ultimately benefit the students themselves as well as the District as a whole.”

As a result of the impending changes, the College has appointed a Work Placement Coordinator and a Programme Coordinator to support the implementation of the Diploma and the new Young Apprenticeship programme which are both due to be delivered at the College from September 2009.

Over the last few years the College has set up partnerships with a variety of local schools on a number of different projects. The Step Up and Early College Transfer programmes involve up to 200 14-16 year olds enrolling onto courses at the College. Here they have the option to study a wide variety of subject areas including Construction, Motor Vehicle Maintenance, Hair & Beauty, Childcare and Uniformed Services amongst others, and benefit from industry experienced tutors and the opportunity to develop interpersonal skills with learners of all ages.

The new Diploma will offer higher and advanced progression pathway to these learners and schools are working in partnership with the College, the Local Authority and Connexions to facilitate these progression opportunities.

For further information on Diplomas visit http://yp.direct.gov.uk/diplomas/

Links

http://yp.direct.gov.uk/diplomas/

ENDS