[Skip to content]

.

Parents and careers advisers

The Diploma in Environmental and Land-based Studies is a new qualification that will be available in some schools and colleges in England from September 2009, and will be available throughout England in 2013.

 

The Diploma is intended principally for 14-19 year-olds and is designed to prepare learners for employment and for further or higher education by developing a thorough understanding of how the environmental and land-based sector and related sectors, work, including their environmental and economic importance.

 

The qualification is an exciting, creative and enjoyable way to learn. It has been structured to allow young people to study it alongside GCSEs and A Levels.  Click here to see how the Diploma fits into the current system.  Diplomas are a key part of the Government’s programme to improve secondary education.

 

The Foundation Diploma is equivalent to 4 to 5 GCSEs at grade D-G. The Higher Diploma is the equivalent of 5 – 6 GCSEs at grades A* - C. The Advanced Diploma is equivalent to three A Levels. Click here to see the main structure of the Diploma at these three levels.  These are to be joined by an Extended Diploma the equivalent of 4.5 A Levels. 

 

How will it develop learners?

Young people who complete the Diploma in Environmental and Land-based Studies will have developed an attitude to enable them to successfully progress to work, to further training, or to further and higher education. 

 

Learners at all levels of the Diploma will be confident they have developed the right hands-on skills, knowledge and understanding required of them.  Not only will they have gained confidence in their personal, learning and thinking skills and abilities, but they will have experienced the real world of work through a variety of work-related learning opportunities. 

 

Diplomas will help realise the student’s potential and aspirations, whether it is to enter the workforce at 18 or whether it is to continue into higher education. Whichever route they follow, they will have developed the knowledge and personal skills that employers want, and a qualification highly valued by employers and universities.

 

For more detailed information about the structure and content of the Diploma, please go to the downloads page to access the Line of Learning Statement and the Line of Learning Executive Summary.

 

Click here for news of consultation and other events taking place.

 

Click here to find out about the partnership of six Sector Skills Councils which has been formed to develop the Diploma.