To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make a statement on the equivalence between diplomas and GCSEs. (179707)

On 18 December 2007, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) announced that the diplomas would be judged equivalent to 5 GCSEs grade A*-G at the foundation level, 7 GCSEs grade A*-C at the higher level and 3.5 A-levels grade A*-E at the advanced level. The equivalence given to diplomas reflects the size and challenge of completing a large composite qualification.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing the new system of school diplomas. (180445)

Jim Knight: The estimated cost of introducing diplomas for 2008/09 is as follows:

KS4: £158 million direct/indirect costs of delivery

£45 million for the additional costs of work force development

The LSC will provide funding for 16 to 18-year-olds taking up diplomas in sixth forms and colleges based on the funding rates published on 21 December 2007 at http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/funding-policy/strategic-overview. These are based on an assessment of cost for each diploma line and level of learning.

The cost in subsequent years will not be known until the number of places and learners are confirmed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to publish the curriculum specification for the diploma qualifications in (a) Construction and Built Environment, (b) Information Technology, (c) Creative and Media, (d) Society, Health and Development and (e) Engineering at the (i) Foundation Diploma level, (ii) Higher Diploma level and (iii) Advanced Diploma level. (180799)

To support the delivery of Diploma learning, we have developed and published guidance in September 2007 for the first five lines of learning, at Foundation Level (level one), Higher Level (level two) and Advanced Level (level three). The purpose of publishing this guidance early at least a year before first teaching of the Diplomas is to support partnership curriculum planners and teachers in making decisions about introducing the Diploma and devising schemes of work. The following curriculum specifications have been accredited and published for first teaching in September 2008:

Construction and the Built Environment

Creative and Media

Engineering

Information Technology

Society, Health and Development.

The guidance is available online at:

www.qca.org.uk/diploma