Society, Health and Development Diploma

From 2008, the Society, Health and Development Diploma, a new qualification for young people between the ages of 14 and 19 will be available across England.

In April 2007, Alan Johnson, Education and Skills Secretary and Schools Minister Jim Knight announced that over 6,800 places would be available on the first ever Society, Health and Development Diploma from 2008.

What is a Diploma?

The new Diploma is one of five new qualifications which will re-shape the face of education across England. Diplomas are new qualifications aimed at providing young people with the skills and knowledge they need to gain a job in UK industry.

There will be 14 Diplomas, launching across schools in England from 2008 to 2011, covering broad subject areas as diverse as retail, manufacturing, hair and beauty and media. These qualifications will run in parallel with the traditional GCSE/A-Level and Apprenticeship routes and will consist of a new formula of blended learning – combining vocational on-the-job training with traditional academic study.

The Society, Health and Development Diploma is one of the first five pathfinder Diplomas to be launched in schools from next year.

How does the Society, Health and Development Diploma affect the Children’s Workforce?

The new Diploma will provide young people with an understanding of health, social care, children’s service and community justice and will help them to develop the skills critical to working successfully in all these areas, problem solving, team working, communication and creative thinking.

The Diploma Development is being led by a partnership of Sector Skills Bodies representing the health, social care, community justice and children’s workforce, led by Skills for Health. Skills Active is leading on behalf of the Children’s Network, supported by CWDC to ensure that the view of employers, volunteers and stakeholders are represented in the content and structure of the new Diploma.

Further information

Society Health and Development Diploma

The Society, Health and Development Diploma learning commenced September 2008. Learner numbers enrolled for the SHD Diploma are encouraging.

Comment from QCA; Early feedback from Diploma practitioners suggests that:

• there is a genuine sense that the Diploma offers a new and engaging context for learning
• students are highly motivated by the applied dimension of the learning.

The Diploma Development Partnership have developed Additional/Specialist learning topics with QCA, awarding bodies, practitioners and employer representatives. 18 areas topics are in consideration.

The work has enabled the very latest thinking on teaching and assessment guidance to be incorporated into the Sample Assessment Materials and other delivery support materials for the Principal Learning qualifications in society, health and development. QCA are holding a launch event for these materials on 17 March 2009, London. The agenda comprises;

Agenda:

0945: Registration, networking and exhibition
1030: Introduction
1100: Diploma development partnership introduction and launch of materials
1130: Tea, coffee and exhibition
1200: Awarding body workshop 1 and launch of materials
1245: Lunch and exhibition
1345: Awarding body workshop 2 and launch of materials
1430: Consultation and feedback
1515: Plenary and close

Please go to the QCA website for more details of how to register if you feel this is relevant to your area of work.

New SHD website

For more information on the SHD diploma please visit the new website www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/diploma

The website has the latest updates for employers, young people and education providers. Visit it to find out about SHD, get the facts, read the quotes and latest news, see what’s happening in your region and have your questions answered.

DCSF website

The Department for Children, Schools and Families has produced some generic information about diplomas that can be downloaded from the DCSF website