Skip to content

Qualifications and courses

The qualifications you get will depend on the courses you take. Schools offer different combinations of courses. Some include courses run in partnership with local colleges, work-based learning providers and employers.

Jump Menu:

Entry Level Certificates

  • These are available in National Curriculum subjects, vocational subjects and the skills needed for work and life.
  • They are assessed through tests, coursework and a portfolio of evidence demonstrating achievement.
  • They provide a stepping stone to further learning, training, employment and independent living.

Back to top

GCSEs

  • These are available in many different subjects including some with a work-related focus.
  • They can be single award (one GCSE), double award (equivalent to two GCSEs) or short courses (covering half the material of a full GCSE).
  • They involve theoretical study and investigative work. Subjects like art and design have large practical elements.
  • Assessment is through a mix of written exams and internal assessment.
  • Most exams are at the end of a course. Unit-based GCSEs may have end-of-unit assessment. Some subjects have two tiers of assessment - Foundation and Higher. Schools decide which tier students should enter.
  • GCSEs provide a stepping stone to further learning, training and employment.

Back to top

The Diploma

  • This is a new qualification and is not yet available everywhere.
  • Ten Diplomas are available now with more coming soon.
  • The Diploma combines classroom learning with practical hands-on experience, including the chance to spend at least ten days working with an employer.
  • It has compulsory elements that include functional skills. Compulsory elements cover the main things that students need to know about their chosen subject area (or 'line of learning') and the skills that employers, universities and colleges look for.
  • It also has optional elements. These can be specialist courses to deepen subject understanding or something completely different to add breadth.
  • Assessment is through written exams and coursework. All Diploma students complete a project to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have gained.
  • Two levels of Diploma are available in Years 10 and 11. The Foundation Diploma is a Level 1 qualification that is the equivalent of five GCSEs. The Higher Diploma is a Level 2 qualification that is the equivalent of seven GCSEs.
  • The Diploma is designed to inform decisions about the future whilst keeping all options open. It provides a stepping stone to further learning, training and employment.
  • Find out more about the Diploma at www.direct.gov.uk/diplomas opens new window.

Back to top

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)

  • These are work-related qualifications based on national occupational standards.
  • They develop the practical skills and knowledge needed in a specific job in a specific industry.
  • In Years 10 and 11, most students work towards NVQs at Levels 1 and/or Level 2.
  • NVQs are split into units. Each unit is assessed.
  • Assessment is through the observation of practical work and the creation of a portfolio of evidence.
  • NVQs provide a stepping stone to further learning, training and employment.

Back to top

Vocationally-Related Qualifications (VRQs)

  • These are work-related qualifications that develop the skills and knowledge needed in a specific vocational area such as information technology, marketing, sales, agriculture and horticulture.
  • Courses vary in size. Some last a few weeks. Others take around the same time to do as four or five GCSEs.
  • Assessment is generally through a mix of exams, observation and the creation of a portfolio of evidence.
  • VRQs provide a stepping stone to further learning, training and employment.

Back to top

Young Apprenticeships

  • These combine practical learning with classroom learning and give young people a taste of real work while they learn. They are not available in every school.
  • Young Apprentices study the normal school curriculum.
  • They also spend 50 days (spread over Years 10 and 11) gaining experience of work with an employer, training provider or college.
  • Young Apprentices work towards Level 2 work-related qualifications such as NVQs.
  • Assessment is through a mix of exams, observation and the creation of a portfolio of evidence.
  • Young Apprenticeships provide a stepping stone to a full-time Apprenticeship or other training, and to further learning and employment.

Back to top

Essential skills

  • These are skills, like enterprise skills, that are essential for learning, work and adult life.
  • They are so important that they're part of most learning programmes and many qualifications.
  • Personal, learning and thinking skills help people to become independent enquirers, creative thinkers, reflective learners, team workers, self managers and effective participators. They are part of all Diplomas.
  • Key skills include communication, application of number, information and communication technology (ICT), working with others, problem solving and improving own learning and performance. In some courses, especially work-related ones, students work towards key skill qualifications in communication, application of number and ICT. Assessment of these is through portfolio building, tests and exams. Students may also create portfolios with evidence of achievement in the other key skills.
  • Functional skills are practical skills in English, mathematics and ICT. They are part of all Diplomas and will soon be part of related GCSEs and programmes such as Young Apprenticeships. From 2010, they will be available as separate qualifications.

Back to top

What next?

Find out what subjects you may be able to do.

Subject choices

Tool kit