Contextualising the Materials to the Diplomas

The x:plore materials have been developed to help teachers deliver vocational or applied subjects.

The 14-19 Diplomas will all contain a requirement that 50% of the learning is Applied, this means that teachers will need to enhance their lesson resources with real and appropriate activities.

These resources offer teachers a chance to let their learners carry out in depth investigations of a range of business contexts without leaving the classroom. Whilst they are not specifically designed to support the delivery of Diplomas there are many similarities in content.

Each disc not only contains information that is sector related, but also has lots of information about how IT is used by people that work in that sector. There are also generic aspects of business that can be used regardless of the sector.

These generic aspects are particularly relevant to learners studying either the IT or Business, Administration and Finance Diplomas.

These resources should also be used across the Diploma lines, as there are opportunities within each disc that allows learners to compare contrasting organisations; public vs private; SME vs large corporations.

The suite of discs can also support the Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills (PLTS) which are essential elements of all Diplomas and are beconing more relevant to the delivery of GCSE and A Level programmes. Each disc contains information that can be used to support the teaching of specific skills, as well as helping to give an insight into different career pathways - something that can be very useful in IAG (Information, Advice and Guidance) sessions.

There are a number of themes that run throughout the x:plore series: PLTs, Enterprise Skills, functional skills, financial literacy. Each of the discs show real people carrying out tasks in their workplaces, learners can use these examples as starting points for their own investigations.

Many schools and colleges will have difficulties engaging with employers and arranging off-site visits at the start of their Diploma delivery. The virtual visits on this range of resources will enable teachers to introduce their learners to a variety of workplaces and to the type of activities they can do on a real visit.

Many aspects of the 14-19 developments are related to the needs of employers, whilst still covering the National Curriculum and Every Child Matters agendas.

The QCA Big Picture

Every Child Matters

Links to a variety of websites can be found throughout the materials, related to the subject area or business sector.

Below are links to the main Diploma websites for the first 10 lines, please be aware that these links worked at the time of publication, if they do not seem to work, enter the title of the site into Google and follow the links from there:

National websites about the Diploma

Department for Children, Schools and Families - 14-19 website
Skills for Business - Sector Skills Development Agency
National Database of Accredited Qualifications (NDAQ)

Diploma Development Partnerships

Developing Diplomas for first teaching in 2008

Construction and the Built Environment
Creative and Media
Engineering
Information technology
Society, Health and Development

Developing Diplomas for first teaching in 2009

Business, administration and finance
Environment and Land-Based Studies
Hair and Beauty
Hospitality and Catering
Manufacturing and Product Design

Developing Diplomas for first teaching in 2010

Public Services
Retail
Sport and Leisure
Travel and Tourism

Information for learners

Diploma information website for learners and their parents/carers
National list of local 14-19 online learning prospectuses (enable users to view local learning provision, including Diplomas)
Connexions Direct (information, advice and guidance for 13-19 year olds)