Pupils start new diploma course

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Schools Secretary Ed Balls visited Newham Sixth Form College in east London to meet some of the students taking the qualification in construction.

Around 20,000 students are expected to take up the first five diplomas this month, in the areas of engineering, construction, IT, media and health.

Eventually, 17 diplomas - which combine work experience with academic theory - will be offered, including in the traditional academic areas of languages, science and humanities.

Mr Balls has said he believes diplomas could replace A-levels and GCSEs as "the qualification of choice" for 14 to 19-year-olds in England.

The start of the new school year marks the start of major changes to the secondary school curriculum as well as the GCSE and A-level exams.

And those 11-year-olds joining secondary school this term are likely to be the first cohort that will be required by law to stay in education or training until the age of 17.

The proposals, which will see the school leaving age raised to 17 by 2013 and 18 by 2015, are set out in the upcoming Education and Skills Bill.

To ensure parents and children are aware of the changes, the Department for Children, Schools and Families is to issue them with a new guidance booklet.

Mr Balls said: "Education is all about opportunities - a good education opens doors. It is the single best way for anyone, regardless of background, to do well and to gain the skills they need to succeed at whatever they want to do."