Press Releases
Diploma win builds education opportunities for young people (PR 962)
Ealing has been chosen to pilot two of the government’s new
diplomas for young people, backed by £1 million in funding towards
a new training centre.
In a pioneering partnership led by Ealing Council, the
borough will offer the Diploma in Construction and the Built
Environment and the Diploma in Creative and Media from September
next year. Both diplomas will each provide places for 210 pupils.
Ealing is one of only five London boroughs chosen to offer
the construction diploma, and the partnership is one of only 145
groups - known as consortia - across the country to be given the
green light to offer diplomas from next year.
The Ealing consortium comprises construction company Mears Group PLC, hair and beauty specialists The Ginger Group, five secondary schools, the West London Academy, Ealing Hammersmith & West London College, West London Learning Skills Council, Ealing Education Business Partnership, Ealing City Learning Centre, Kensington and Chelsea College and Hammersmith and Fulham Council.
Specialised diplomas aim to give young people aged 14-19 years broader options alongside other qualifications like GCSEs, A-Levels and apprenticeships. Students will be able to learn in a variety of environments including workplaces, colleges and schools.
In addition, the Ealing bid was awarded a £1 million capital grant - one of 30 grants awarded across the country - towards building a permanent training centre.
Councillor Ian Gibb, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “We are very excited to be one of only five London boroughs chosen to offer specialised diploma training in construction.
“This will allow us to further develop our agenda to provide young people with more choice, real-life work skills and knowledge that’s relevant to employers.
“Employers will be involved at each step of the way to ensure the programme delivers what they need – motivated young people with an understanding of industry backed by sound literacy, numeracy and IT skills.
“We are already busy establishing a new diploma and enterprise centre in Greenford, with the backing of local employers, to offer young people work-related vocational and academic programmes in construction and hair and beauty from this September.”
The new Ealing Diploma and Enterprise Centre (eDEC) is being
developed in partnership with two employers (construction company
Mears Group PLC and hair and beauty specialists The Ginger Group),
and other consortium partners, including Greenford High School,
Brentside High School, Northolt High School and West London
Academy.
The centre will be the base for the delivery of Ealing’s
Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment.
The Diploma in Creative and Media will be offered from Acton
High School’s state-of-the-art media suite, Twyford Church of
England High School’s music technology facilities, The City
Learning Centre, and Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College
Centre of Vocational Excellence.
Jan Parnell, who is the education adviser for young people aged 14-19 years at Ealing Council, said: “The roll-out of specialised diplomas represents a major reform of the secondary education system - from Key Stage 3 right through to further education.
“A lot of young people want this type of engagement earlier in their education. They want practical opportunities as well as the more traditional courses running alongside them.
“The new diploma and other vocational education on offer across
the borough, including The Cardinal Wiseman School’s new training
kitchen, will give students the chance to learn from industry
experts in quality, hands-on environments.”