Official Statistics

Diploma learning in England: academic year 2009 to 2010

This official statistics release (OSR) provides the earliest information on the overall participation and achievements of young people taking diplomas in the academic year 2009 to 2010.

Documents

Main text: OSR26/2010

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternative.formats@education.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Main tables: OSR26/2010

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternative.formats@education.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Underlying data: OSR26/2010

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternative.formats@education.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Pre-release access list: OSR26/2010

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternative.formats@education.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

Reference Id: OSR26/2010

Publication Type: Statistical Release

Publication data: Underlying Statistical data

Local Authority data: LA data

Region: England

Release Date: 10 November 2010

Coverage status: Final

Publication Status: Published

This information is based on data collated for the Department of Education by the Diploma Aggregation Service (DAS) and covers all learners who participate in a 14-to-9 diploma course of study during the academic year 2009 to 2010, including those who achieve their diploma within the period.

Both participation and achievement information is provided at England level by subject, diploma level and key personal characteristics. Participation information only is also provided by the providing Local Authority and subject.

Key points

  • 38,013 learners participated in a diploma during 2009 to 2010. This was an increase on 11,326 learners during 2008 to 2009. (Some of the 2008 to 2009 learners will have continued to study in 2009 to 2010).
  • Diplomas can be studied in ten subjects, five of which became available for the first time at the beginning of 2009 to 2010. The most popular subject was creative & media which was studied by 28% of all learners.
  • There are three levels at which Diplomas can be studied: level 1 (foundation), level 2 (higher) and level 3 (advanced or progression). Two-thirds of the diploma learners (25,653) in 2009 to 2010 were studying at higher level.
  • 4,599 Diplomas were achieved during 2009 to 2010. Again the majority (3,211) were at higher level, with 788 being achieved at level 3. 11% of the total awards were made at A* to A.
  • Diplomas proved slightly more popular with males, with 55% of participants being male. The difference was slightly larger for achievements, were 60% of learners awarded a diploma were male. There were large differentials in the subjects favoured by the different genders, with males preferring subjects such as engineering and construction & the built environment, whereas females were more likely than males to take hair & beauty studies and society, health & development.

Helen Bray
0207 783 8553

helen.bray@education.gsi.gov.uk

Published 10 November 2010