Benefits

Education improvements

Changes in 14-19 education are being developed in order to:

• Raise standards so that all young people have the right skills to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world and can continue learning throughout life.
• Offer more flexibility in learning opportunities to allow young people to reach their full potential.
• Offer a wider range of courses and qualifications that motivate and engage young people.

What benefits do these changes bring to your teenager?

Pathways through education are now much more flexible and students can choose which route best suits them. Every qualification on offer is linked to a progression route and by looking at the learning pathways diagram, as well as the case studies, you can see how students are able to move easily from one pathway to another.

What is new?

The Diploma

The Diploma combines classroom learning with practical hands-on experience, including at least ten days working with an employer.

The Diploma has been developed in partnership with employers, schools, colleges and universities and is offered at three levels. It is designed to help your teenager make decisions about their future while keeping all their options open.

Diplomas are not yet available in all areas, but are currently being taught in selected schools, colleges and work-based learning providers. By 2013, all Diploma subject areas will be available to all young people.

For more information on Diplomas see the What's available? section.

Expansion in Young Apprenticeships

Young Apprenticeships give teenagers a taste of the world of work, while continuing with their studies. They are available to young people aged 14-16. The scheme has been very successful with growing numbers of participants and is expanding so that even more employment areas will be on offer.

For more information on Young Apprenticeships see the What's available? section.

Changes to GCSEs

• The main change to GCSEs is the introduction of internal assessment in place of coursework, where pupils will do projects under controlled conditions in school.
• From September 2009, GCSE coursework in nine subjects, including English literature, geography and history, is to be replaced by internal assessment.

For more information on GCSEs see Choices in Year 9.

Changes to A Levels

• There are 4 units in most subjects.
• There are more challenging, open-ended questions and from 2010 a new A* grade will be awarded to recognise the achievement of the most able students.
• The extended project is a new Level 3 qualification designed to develop the wider skills that higher education courses demand. It is a compulsory part of the Advanced Diploma and is available as an option within A Level courses.

For more information on A Levels see Choices in Year 11.

Functional skills

Functional skills are the English, mathematics and ICT skills that everybody needs to deal with everyday life. Functional skills are part of all Diplomas and will soon be part of related GCSEs and schemes such as Young Apprenticeships. From 2010, they will also be available as qualifications in their own right.