Specialised Diplomas form part of the Department for Education and Skills’ (DfES) plans to transform secondary and post-secondary education.  Available across 14 vocational lines, the Diplomas are to be a national entitlement, meaning that all young people will have the option of studying towards them.

Designed to be a valuable information resource for teachers, senior managers in schools and colleges, and anyone interested in developments in 14 – 19 education, Edexcel’s new microsite features:

• an overview of Specialised Diplomas;
• the lines of study and proposed timeline;
• Edexcel’s involvement in taking these forward; and
• Policy documents outlining Edexcel’s position on the Government’s 14 - 19 agenda.

Steve Besley, Head of Policy Development at Edexcel, said: “The 14 – 19 White Paper was launched in February 2005.  The ensuing 18-months has seen a raft of papers, reports, documents, guidance and commentaries - each contributing to 14 – 19 developments in some way.  The information on this microsite, and more broadly, in our Policy Watch reports, is intended to keep colleagues up to date with national developments.”

Edexcel also is holding three free one-day conferences, at locations in Leeds, London and Birmingham, especially for senior managers in schools and colleges.  Entitled, The Vocational Landscape for 2006 and beyond, the conferences will contextualise and clarify the wealth of information and policies surrounding vocational education and training.  For further information, please visit: http://www1.edexcel.org.uk/vlandscape/.

View Edexcel’s Specialised Diplomas microsite at: www.edexcel.org.uk/specialised-diploma 

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