TEP Support for the Engineering Diploma
The Diploma at a glance
The purpose of the Engineering Diploma is to provide an alternative route to learning which combines vocational relevance with applied academic rigour.
It is designed to provide a workforce for the future which is "job ready" and the inclusion of a high proportion of applied and work related content is designed to add considerable relevance to learning.
In common with the other diplomas, the engineering diploma is offered at three different levels. Broadly there are 7 principal learning units at level 1, eight at level 2 and nine at level 3 that incrementally reflect the range and diversity and depth of study required.
| Engineering | GCSE / GCE Equivalent | Number of Units | |
| Level 1 | Foundation | 5 GCSE D-G | 7 |
| Level 2 | Higher | 7 GCSE A*-C | 8 |
| Level 3 | Advanced | 3.5-4.5 GSE | 9 |
The Diplomas have a fairly complex structure, with a number of interdependent parts:
Principal Learning - which defines the subject content, mainly internally assessed.
Generic Learning - transferable skills which are used in all walks of life. There is a real emphasis on team working. This is assessed through principal learning but includes Functional Skills which are assessed separately until 2010 when GCSE's will also include functional skills.
The Project - an opportunity to use project management skills which is equivalent to half a GCSE at foundation or higher or an AS level at advanced.
Work Experience - minimum ten days work placement.
Additional and Specialist Learning - these are other qualifications which allow the learning to be broader or reach greater depth of specialism opportunities.
e.g. a welding or electronic qualification at the same level.
Assessment - Only the assessments for principal learning and the project will matter when the diploma grade is determined, but all three functional skills have to be passed at the appropriate level.
The purpose of Additional or Specialist learning is to provide either a broad base to the learner's education or if there is a local need, or the learner wishes to personalise their learning by completing a more specialised qualification which provides more depth. So both GCSE subjects and vocational qualifications may be taken.
What are the units about?
They range in scope considerably, and offer a mixture of learning related to the technical content of engineering, career pathways and roles with opportunities for communication, design and innovation. An example might be in electronics which starts at Foundation Level with a simple introduction and progresses to instrumentation at Advanced level. Other units are concerned with careers, production, design, maintenance, materials, environmental impact and computer applications. At Advanced level two units are designed to ensure learners have the right mathematical skills and scientific knowledge.
To get to the QCA diploma support site: www.qca.org.uk/qca_13916.aspx
To find out more about specialist units: www.ndaq.org.uk/DiplomaCatalogueSelection.aspx
Government funded information site on engineering diploma: www.engineeringdiploma.com
A useful general site of information: www.direct.gov.uk/diplomas/