Creative and Media Diploma Champion, York.

To inspire confident learners who will thrive in a changing world

Karl Elwell

The York Creative and Media Diploma Development Group

• 7 York Schools• York College• Higher York• Learning City York• NYBEP• Diploma Business Champion• LA – other Diploma groups (and QA)• Regional – other consortiums

How we’ve developed the Diploma

• Gateway – expand DDG• Partnerships everything• Meetings every fortnight (minimum)• Select exam board• Build schemes of work• Link to businesses• Training – diploma-support.org.uk• IAG

My observations:

• Messages within schools is mixed

• Understanding of why but…

• Parents unsure

• Teachers unsure

• Pupils’ experience varies

• L2 is proving popular

• ..this will take time!

ITT issues:

• I have spoken to students at York University and York St John University.

• They need educating!• Some wonder where Diplomas fit in –

subject level/teaching level• Most have little knowledge of the Diploma

…but realise its importance• The messages they receive from schools

is mixed

Next steps:

• Continue ‘Champion’ post• Review my role• Review what further IAG is needed – for everyone• Assess pedagogical issues – and this is VITAL• Get it right for trainees – they need a ‘real’ experience –

this may be difficult if teachers themselves feel ‘removed’ from the qualification – because they have no direct ‘experience’ (and in a lot of cases, ‘knowledge’) of it themselves.

• The key thing for me is for trainees to understand how and why this is different to other qualifications out there and the potential that it holds…

How might this happen?

• Join a DDG• Visit consortiums• Understand links to industry• Become involved in assessment• Plan a scheme of work from the specifications• Speak to Diploma learners• Join: diploma-support.org.uk• Assessment of this may be difficult in the early

stages and it may be easier to see gaining an ‘experience’ as a very valid ‘outcome’

KEY AREAS THAT MAY WANT TO BE EXPLORED BY TRAINEES…

• Student recruitment strategy• IAG events – staff, parents, FE, HE and pupils• Collaboration between schools (how?)• Exam board selection and training• SSAT Training (diploma-support)• Specifications• Which staff deliver and how (also staff development issues)• Schemes of work (across 3 levels1 F, H, Advanced)• The role of a Verifier• Teaching environment(s)• Internal quality assurance systems• Integration of e-learning, (u-xplore?)• Employer Engagement• Business Enterprise Partnerships• LA provision• FE liaison• HE liaison• The effect upon Curriculum Deputies, Exams Officers, etc• Delivery of work experience

• The experience of the Diploma learner

Questions?

K.elwell@huntington-ed.org.uk