The Diploma in Creative and Media is one of the first of the new Diplomas available to 14-19 year olds in England. It was launched in September 2008 and is available in many schools across England.
Diplomas are new qualifications for 14 to 19 year olds. They have been created to offer an alternative learning style for students. Diplomas give young people a fully rounded qualification, and include functional English, Maths and ICT, to equip them with the skills, knowledge and understanding they need for further or higher education and long-term employability. Diplomas will be taught in schools and parallel the traditional qualifications including GCSEs, A-Levels and Apprenticeship routes.
The Diploma in Creative and Media provides an education route for learners looking for an alternative to more conventional academic qualifications. It combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills and other essential soft skills applied in a ‘real world’ environment. Learners who achieve the Diploma will have the right knowledge, experience and attitude to prepare them for higher education, further education, training or employment.
The Diploma in Creative and Media is available at three levels:
- Foundation – equivalent to 5 GCSEs at grades D to G
- Higher – equivalent to 7 GCSEs at grades A* to C
- Advanced – equivalent to 3.5 A levels
The Diploma in Creative and Media has been developed by a Diploma Development Partnership, which included:
- Creative & Cultural Skills
- Skillset
- Skillfast-uk
- Employers
- Further Education
- Higher Education
- Awarding organisations.
For further information about this Diploma, visit Skillset's website.
Employers – get involved
The Diploma in Creative and Media offers a chance for employers to engage with young people as creators, participants, receivers and consumers of cultural life. It provides a unique opportunity for organisations to influence the kind of learning that young people experience; to ensure that they are developing the knowledge, skills and behavior that will benefit the sector. Half of the principal learning component (the new content) of the Diploma must be delivered by work-related learning therefore employer’s involvement is vital to the Diploma’s success. Read more about Work-related learning.
“My experience, through employer engagement, of the 14-19 Diploma suggests that it is well suited to providing the kind of education that the creative industries require in the 21st century. Young people are given the opportunity to work on problem-solving collaboratively and creatively, drawing on their previous experience as they do so. It also helped me to sharpen my own thinking (young people, as critical consumers, ask good questions!), network, and (through the students' projects) learn more myself about creative industries in the region.”
Anthony Haynes, Director, The Professional and Higher Partnership Ltd
To find out which schools in your area offer the Diploma in Creative & Media, and to get linked up with a school or college visit one of the following organisations for advice:
For practical advice for employers about how to plan work-related learning activities download our factsheet.