Diplomas

What is a Diploma?

Diplomas are multi-component qualifications themed around an industry sector (known as a ‘line of learning’) which have been designed as an alternative to traditional GCSEs and A levels.  The Diploma uniquely combines essential skills and knowledge, hands-on experience and employer-based learning, to prepare a young person for work or further study.

Diplomas offer a mix of theoretical and practical learning, including functional English, mathematics and ICT, and the opportunity to develop a specialism or undertake complementary study.

NCFE’s involvement in the Diploma

NCFE is approved as both a Diploma Awarding Body (DAB) and a Component Awarding Body (CAB) in the first lines of learning for the Diplomas:

• construction and the built environment
• creative and media
• engineering
• information technology
• society, health and development.

Teaching of these Diplomas begins in September 2008.  At the moment, we’re only using our CAB status offering Additional and Specialist learning (ASL). 

What is Additional and Specialist Learning?

ASL is one of the components of the Diplomas.  Its purpose is to offer an opportunity for a learner to study a particular topic in more depth or broaden their studies in other areas. A large proportion of our existing portfolio is included in the ASL catalogue across all lines of learning.  We also have a number of qualifications approved as specialist learning for the Creative and Media Diploma.  You can check which of our qualifications are approved for each line in the Diploma Catalogues.

Accessing the Diploma catalogues

The catalogues are managed by the Office of the Examinations and Qualifications Regulator (Ofqual) and are currently updated every 3 months. 

The full catalogues are available to everyone on the National Database of Accredited Qualifications at: http://www.accreditedqualifications.org.uk/DiplomaCatalogueSelection.aspx 
We’ve made searching the Diploma Catalogue easier for you.
Just click on the links below to find out which NCFE qualifications are approved as ASL across all of the lines of learning and at each level.