About Diplomas

About the Diplomas

Diplomas are new qualifications that will provide an exciting, stretching and relevant programme of learning for all young people. Each Diploma has pathways offering learners a wide range of options and accommodating a wide range of aspirations. Diplomas are being designed to appeal to:

  • The most capable students preparing for the most demanding university courses,
  • Students who will engage better with the innovative Diploma approach than with the existing provision,
  • Students preparing for employment or work-based learning.

The Diploma in Hospitality has been developed as part of the new suite of Diplomas being introduced into schools from September 2008. The Diploma in Hospitality will be taught in schools and colleges from September 2009. The 17 Diplomas being introduced in four phases include:

Phase 1 Diplomas for first teaching from September 2008:

  • creative and media
  • construction and the built environment
  • engineering
  • IT
  • society, health and development

Phase 2 Diplomas for first teaching from September 2009:

  • business, administration and finance
  • environmental and land-based studies
  • hair and beauty studies
  • hospitality
  • manufacturing and product design

Phase 3 Diplomas for first teaching from September 2010:

Phase 4 Diplomas for first teaching from September 2011:

  • humanities
  • languages
  • science

On behalf of the hospitality industry...

People 1st has been working on the Diploma development since the beginning of 2006, using an expert group comprising senior employers from across the industry and senior staff from schools, colleges and universities and consulting with a much wider range of stakeholders.  The Diploma in Hospitality, which will be launched in September 2009, will introduce students to the hospitality industry and will develop not only their knowledge and understanding of the sector but also a wide range of transferable skills: personal, functional, craft, support and supervisory.

It is their emphasis on those skills, important both in work and in life in general, that makes the Diplomas forward-looking and ground-breaking. These skills include team-working, communication, creative thinking and self-management - something employers have consistently asked for. While each Diploma is suitably demanding, it is also exciting and interesting at the same time. The Diploma in Hospitality offers young people thinking about a career in hospitality an all-round education coupled with a thorough preparation for entry into the sector.

Designed by universities and employers, the Diplomas can take students on to college, university or the career of their choice 

A minimum standard in English, maths and ICT...

All Diplomas will require a student to achieve a minimum standard in English, maths and ICT, complete a project and do a minimum of 10 days' work experience. Diplomas combine theory and practice to equip students with the skills, knowledge and experience they will need for success at college, university and work.

Foundation and Higher Diploma students can go on to study for the next level of the Diploma, take a different type of qualification, such as a GCSE, A-level or Apprenticeship, or go on to a job with training. An advanced Diploma can lead on to university or into a career. The Diploma will help students to make decisions about their future direction without closing down their options.