These tables show early statistics on participation and achievement in Diploma learning during the first year of the Diploma programme for England in 2008/09. The figures come from the Diploma Aggregation System (DAS), which measures the number of learners registered on a Diploma course. This data has then been matched to the National Pupil Database.

The Diploma is a new qualification which was introduced in schools and colleges in the academic year 2008/09 with an initial choice of five subjects, known as lines of learning. They can be taken by any pupil from the age of 14 and are available at different levels from Foundation (equivalent to 5 GCSEs at grades D-G), Higher (7 GCSEs at grades A*-C), Progression (2.5 A levels) and Advanced (3.5 A levels). At all levels the Diploma incorporates a mixture of practical experience and classroom learning.

The majority of the Diplomas are taken over two years but some learners can choose to take a Diploma in one year. Thus the cohort of learners registered as taking Diplomas during the academic year 2008/2009, which is reported on in these tables, includes a small number of learners who have achieved their Diploma in one year. Both participation and achievement is analysed separately in these tables.

Table 1 shows participation by line of learning and level of Diploma by learner characteristics.

Table 2 shows participation by line of learning and Local Authority. Note not all LAs were offering Diploma courses in 2008/2009.

Table 3 gives details of the learners who have achieved a Diploma in one year in 2008/2009 by line of learning, Diploma level (Foundation and Higher only) and key characteristics.

Note: Diplomas are being phased in over several academic years, with the initial five subjects being extended to 10 in 2009/10, and eventually 17 subjects being planned. The number of schools and colleges across the country offering Diploma courses is also increasing. Therefore the future profile of Diploma learners may well differ from this relatively small cohort of learners undertaking Diplomas in 2008/09, the first year of provision.

Note: Diploma participation for the academic year 2008/09 may well be slightly higher than shown in these reports as Diploma learners do not have to be registered at the start of their course of study. Registration has been seen to be increasing throughout the academic year but it is possible that some two-year diploma learners might not be registered in DAS until the next academic year. Further information is available in the Technical Note.

Contact details

Jill Bodey
Telephone: 0114 274 2200
Email: Jill.Bodey@education.gsi.gov.uk