‘Disaster’ diplomas prove popular
TEESSIDE colleges say new diplomas, which were branded a “disaster for education” today, are proving popular with local students.
Both Middlesbrough College and Macmillan Academy are in the vanguard of those launching the new sector-focused Engineering Diploma in September.
John McCallum, deputy principal at Macmillan Academy, said: “The engineering diploma provides skills employers want and there has been a really good uptake.”
The news comes as a report from Buckingham University criticised the Government for imposing diplomas too quickly.
John Hogg, principal of Middlesbrough Council, said: “Our vocational education programme has been very successful and we are building on that.”
The Government has said A-levels, GCSEs and diplomas will run side by side until 2013 when the all courses will be reviewed.
