Diploma Update from People 1st

Date: 7-July-2010 

People 1st, the Sector Skills Council for hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism, has issued a statement to clarify the changes effecting Diplomas in the coming months as a results of new government policy:

Diploma Update from People 1st
I want to fully update you on Diplomas, so you are perfectly clear regarding Government policy and the role of the Diploma Development Partnership (DDP).
The minister of State for Schools has decided that the work of all DDPs will close at the end of September. Therefore, the Travel and Tourism and Hospitality DDPs will be closed down by the end of September, including the website www.tandtdiploma.co.uk. However, we will be making all the relevant resources and case studies, which can support a range of Travel and Tourism and Hospitality related qualifications, available to access on our respective SSC specialist IAG websites www.uksp.co.uk and www.careersinpassengertransport.org. We will provide stakeholders with details of how to use these sites and where exactly to access the information and resources in due course.
 
I want to make it clear that the decision to stop the work of DDPs does not mean that that the Government is stopping the Diploma. Young people planning to study the Diploma in Travel and Tourism or Hospitality in September or in the future should be reassured that their Diploma will continue. The Diploma Formula Grant to support their study will continue as planned in 2010/11 with no reduction in funding. As students start to graduate from the Diploma, employers and universities will be able to judge how well the Diploma is meeting their needs, and the Minister will keep the Diploma under review.
 
In addition, the development of the Extended Diploma has been stopped, along with the Phase 4 Diplomas, both of which was widely expected.  Furthermore, the Government wants schools and colleges to have greater choice over the qualifications they offer, so they will be allowed to choose how many, and which, Diploma lines of learning they offer along with other qualifications which they think are right for their students.
It’s disappointing that the work of the DDPs will come to an end, but I hope that we will leave stakeholders with a valuable legacy which will help contribute to the success of students and the development of practitioners.
 
John Humphreys, People 1st
6th July 2010
More information about Diplomas and the work of People 1st can be found at the People 1st Website.