futures MARCH 2009
futures6
DAMON
NEWTON
Student Sabbatical Officer,
14-19 Partnership.
Cumbria
GETTING TO GRIPS WITH
A PIONEERING DIPLOMA
SCHOOLS
T
HIS time of year is often confusing for
students in Year 9. Making choices
about the future can be very
daunting. So I thought I'd talk to people
and write a little guide for those students
and parents still unsure of what options
are out there.
My first visit was to Connexions. Louise
Forster, team leader at Whitehaven, said:
"Through the collaborative work of the
West Cumbria 14-19 Partnership, young
people now have a wider range of options
open to them than ever before. It is
therefore important that they have access
to expert and impartial information,
advice and guidance to help them make
the right choices.
"Connexions Cumbria have a network of
personal advisers who can provide
guidance and support to young people
and their parents, as well as working
alongside opportunity providers to ensure
that up-to-date information is widely
available and easily accessible to all young
people."
Valerie Hallard, of West Cumbria 14-19
Partnership, said "As well as each school's
own offer, Lakes College and other training
providers are sharing their expertise to
make it possible for young people to take
vocational (work-relevant) qualifications in
Year 10 and 11 (Key Stage 4).
"The partnership's vision `enabling every
young person to choose to succeed' means
that everyone should be able to follow the
`learning pathway' that best suits them,
and for some people it is very motivating
to be trying out, and possibly starting on
pathway related to a career."
In November, the partnership organised
a Skills Fair at the Sellafield Centre to
which all schools were invited to bring
their Year 9 students � and more than
1,000 young people attended.
The workshops were run by volunteers
from Sellafield, Lakes College, GEN II, the
University of Cumbria, the Police and Fire
Services, Allerdale Borough Council,
Theatre by the Lake, Construction Skills,
Skin Deep, Young Enterprise, National
Nuclear Laboratory, Whitehaven Rugby
League, and The Wave Maryport.
I was pretty shattered at the end of the
three days, but it was great to see so many
people thinking about possible future
careers.
The Partnership asks each organisation
to keep the Area Prospectus up to date at
www.futures4me.co.uk/cumbria , so I
thought I'd look to see what was there.
Several schools are offering qualifications
that relate to the world of work. Some are
BTECs or applied GCSEs like travel and
tourism, health and social care � these are
often double options. ASDAN awards also
give you the chance to show evidence of
the skills that employers are looking for.
Judith Dakers, schools liaison manager
at Lakes College, said the college is
offering vocational courses, as Y10/Y11
options, which lead to various
work-relevant qualifications. These include
construction; creative crafts; art and
design; vehicle maintenance; hairdressing/
salon services; food preparation and
service; public services; retail; childcare;
health and social care; sports leadership.
Tasters for the various options are
happening now � ask at school straight
away if you are interested.
Have you heard about young
apprenticeships or the new diplomas? The
new 14-19 diploma is an exciting new
qualification designed to engage with
employers. You get more choice about
what you learn and you can keep your
options open for the future by exploring
subject areas without committing to a
career in them.
There are three subjects being offered
this year. Manufacturing and product
design � you will be working with
employers such as Sellafield Ltd, Alcan and
James Walker of Cockermouth.
Manufacturing will be available at Level 2
and 3; the level 2 will be taught in the
special manufacturing suite at Southfield
Technology College.
Creative and media � you will be
working with professionals from the
Theatre By The Lake and Soundwave. This
will be available for study at Level 3 only
at Workington Sixth Form Centre and
Netherhall School.
Engineering � this lets you study with
professional engineers from local
engineering firms. Engineering will be
available at Lakes College.
The Young Apprenticeship (YAp) has
been running for five years and has been
very successful. You can choose performing
arts (with Stainburn), sports (with
Netherhall) or engineering (with St
Benedict's). You combine a relevant GCSE
with a work placement which leads to a
relevant NVQ or BTEC qualification. You
need to be committed to the extra work
but if you are interested in these career
areas they make a very stimulating course.
The YAp award ceremony featured in
the November issue of Futures, when the
YAps received their certificates for the
completion of their qualifications.
Young people and parents can contact
Connexions advisers through school or the
nearest Connexions Centre.
T
EACHERS, lecturers and trainers have
attended a workshop designed to help
them plan for the Government's new
diploma qualifications.
Manufacturing and product design
diplomas will be launched in September
and West Cumbria is one of just 28 areas in
the country that will offer the qualification
from this year.
Students will split their time between
classroom, college, and the workplace.
Derek Jones, from the development team
behind the manufacturing diploma, said:
"The diploma is a unique qualification
delivered in partnership with employers,
and young people will get more
opportunity than ever before to experience
real working environments."
The diplomas, being rolled out by the
government as part of a major overhaul of
14-19 education, will be delivered by the
West Cumbria 14-19 Partnership.
The diploma can be taken alongside
GCSEs, A-levels and vocational subjects and
is intended to offer clear progression on to
further and higher education, vocational
training, or the world of work.
The diploma in Manufacturing and
Product Design is one of 17 being rolled
out by the government as part of a major
overhaul of 14-19 education. In West
Cumbria, the diploma in MPD will be
delivered by the West Cumbria 14-19
Partnership. Visit www.
cumbriagridforlearning.org.uk for more
information.
DESIGNS ON THE FUTURE: A students
taking part in the Southfield design project.
CREATIVE PARTNERSHIP: `Young people are at the heart of what we do and our programmes
are most effective when young people are actively involved in leading and shaping them, taking
responsibility for their own learning' Picture: Russell Colman.
A quick guide to the
choices open to you

Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5Page 6Page 7Page 8Page 9Page 10Page 11Page 12Page 13Page 14Page 15Page 16 Produced by PageSuite