March 2010
Sir - Over recent weeks, 13-and 14-year-olds have been making
decisions about the qualifications they will take from this
September. Many will be fortunate enough to be able to choose
from four new diplomas on top of the 10 already being taught across
the country.
Theses are new qualifications that more than 8000 employers have
helped to design. They are equivalent to, and build on, the
best of GCSEs, A-levels and other popular qualifications, but with
an approach grounded in real-life application.
By September 2011, there will be 17 diplomas, covering subjects
as diverse as engineering, retail business, and languages and
international communication. Universities and employers are
looking forward to seeing the first pupils who have passed this
summer, because diplomas promise to equip young people with the
knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to provide the workplace
readiness that many employers have found lacking in school-leavers
and graduates.
Diplomas provide young people with a radical new choice of what,
where and how they learn, and give employers a unique opportunity
to become part of the education system. We call on employers
everywhere to get involved.
Signatories of this letter are James Wates, Deputy
Chairman for the Wates Group; Clive Jones, the Chairman of
GMTV; Phil Bentley, Managing Director for British Gas; Tony Wray,
Cheif Executive of Severn Trent and Ken Wilson, Community Affairs
Manager for Tate & Lyle.
The Daily Telegraph