Last updated: 25 Jun 2009

Diplomas at levels 1 and 2 (Foundation and Higher Diploma)

Foundation and Higher Diploma achievement and attainment table (AAT) points exclude functional skills and personal, learning and thinking skills (PLTS) because these are delivered and recognised in AAT points through the KS4 curriculum.

This means that for the Foundation Diploma, the formula for AAT points is derived from 420 of the total 600 guided learning hours published in the Diploma structures and standards document (available on the QCA website), since the functional skills and PLTS comprise 180 guided learning hours at this level.

AAT points for the Higher Diploma are based on 660 of the total 800 guided learning hours for the course, since the functional skills and PLTS comprise 140 guided learning hours at this level.

Foundation Diploma:

	glh	B	A	A*
Principal Learning	240	57	84	102
Project	60	9.5	14	17
Additional/Specialist Learning	120	19	28	34
Total	420	85.5	126	153

  Comparison with AAT points at GCSE:  

	glh	F-G	E	D
5 GCSEs at level 1 (e.g. 5 GCSEs at grades D-G)	415-504	80-110	140	170

 

Higher Diploma:

	glh	C	B	A	A*
Principal Learning	420	200	230	260	290
Project	60	20	23	26	29
Additional/Specialist Learning	180	80	92	104	116
Total	660	300	345	390	435

Comparison with AAT points at GCSE:

	glh	C	B	A	A*
7 GCSEs at level 2 (e.g. 7 GCSEs at grades A*-C)	595-684	280	322	364	406

 

Diploma at level 3 (Advanced Diploma)

At Level 3, the curriculum context does not already include provision for the delivery of personal, learning and thinking skills (PLTS), functional skills or work-related learning. These are all hurdles for the achievement of the Advanced Diploma.

Functional skills (FS) will need to be "taught" in the early years of the Diploma, and work experience will require a significant amount of directed time (see below). Therefore the functional skills, work experience and PLTS hurdles are included within the AAT points calculations.

This means that although the published 1080 guided learning hours for the Advanced Diploma is still valid, the AAT points for the qualification are based on 1305 guided learning hours, taking into account functional skills and work experience, which together comprise 225 guided learning hours.

Advanced Diploma:

	glh	E	D	C	B	A	A*
Principal Learning	540	225	270	315	360	405	450
Extended Project	120	45	54	63	72	81	90
Additional/Specialist Learning	360	150	180	210	240	270	300
English FS	45	23	23	23	23	23	23
Maths FS	45	23	23	23	23	23	23
ICT FS	45	23	23	23	23	23	23
PLTS	60	30	36	42	48	54	60
Work experience	90*	63	63	63	63	63	63
Total	1305	582	672	762	852	942	1032

Comparison with AAT points at GCE A level:

	glh	E	D	C	B	A	A*
3.5 GCE A levels A*-E	1200	525	630	735	840	945	1050

* glh for work experience has been calculated on the basis of 10 eight-hour working days and 10 hours for preparation, reporting and evaluation

 

 

Questions and answers

Will the separate parts of the Diploma count in the AATs even if someone doesn't complete the full Diploma?

Yes they will. So a student who achieves their principal learning and project but not their additional and/or specialist learning or functional skills will be awarded AAT points for the principal learning and project and these will count in the AATs.

Similarly, if someone didn't achieve their principal learning and project but did achieve their additional and/or specialist learning, they would achieve points for the additional and/or specialist learning alone. The value for the component parts of the Diploma at each level are shown above.

Why don’t the Foundation and Higher Diplomas attract more performance points post-16 than pre-16?

Qualifications at the same level have to be given the same performance points whether they are studied pre- or post-16. Some students might start a qualification pre-16 and complete post-16, for example. So the points awarded to the Foundation and Higher Diplomas will be the same pre- and post-16.

Does the equivalence of 7 GCSEs for the Higher Diploma include points for functional skills or not?

No - the equivalence of 7 GCSEs includes points for the principal learning and project and additional and/or specialist learning only. Functional skills will attract their own performance points as a stand alone qualification - at Level 2 equivalent to 0.5 GCSE A*-C for each functional skill. In the early years of Diploma delivery, when functional skills have to be taken as a stand alone qualification, Diploma students will be awarded these points in addition to any performance points for achievement in English and Maths GCSEs. But by 2010 we expect most students taking a Higher Diploma at Key Stage 4 to be achieving their functional skills through English and Maths GCSEs. Functional skills would then be recognised in points for achievement of those GCSEs.

Why is an Advanced Diploma 'worth' more than three A levels, when its published guided learning hours (1,080) remain the same?

The Advanced Diploma's value in terms of Achievement and Attainment Tables (AAT) is equivalent to 3.5 A levels. This 'value' decision recognises that the Diploma - a composite qualification demanding that learners complete a number of components, from subject learning with a minimum 50 per cent applied content, to skills in a variety of disciplines - is an inherently broad, stretching and challenging qualification.

Because the curriculum beyond Key Stage 4 does not include mandatory elements of English, maths, ICT or work-related learning - all hurdles for the achievement of the Advanced Diploma - the AAT points reflect these additional requirements. Taking into account functional skills and work experience requirements results in the Advanced Diploma attracting an AAT points value equivalent to that of 3.5 A levels.

What is a Progression Diploma equivalent to?

A Progression Diploma comprises two of the three available components of the Diploma at level 3: principal learning and generic learning. It does not require the additional and/or specialist learning component.

What is the UCAS tariff value of the Progression and Advanced Diplomas?

You can view the UCAS tariff value for Diplomas at this area of the UCAS website.