North Somerset

Marie Horton, 14-19 Partnership Manager, North Somerset
Christopher Cross, Team Leader, Connexions, West of England
Mark Curtis, Creative and Media Line Lead, Backwell School
Julian Cox, Information Technology Line Lead, Weston College
Nicola Burcham, Executive Manager, Connexions, West of England
Graham Manson, Information Technology Line Lead, Gordano School
Jenny Clark, Employer Engagement Co-ordinator
Corinne Mitchell, Information Technology Line Lead, Broadoak School
Steve Taylor, Deputy Head, Backwell School

Marie Horton, 14-19 Partnership Manager, North Somerset: I think the Diplomas are what lots and lots of learners have been looking for for a long time, because the Diplomas celebrate what you can do rather than the conformity to a box or to an assessment criteria. It does enable young people to literally grow and develop in front of our eyes, and that's absolutely fantastic.

Christopher Cross, Team Leader, Connexions, West of England: You know this is a real big change in the world of education. I think what we need to do is actually trust the process that's happening.

Mark Curtis, Creative and Media Line Lead, Backwell School: I was quite cynical of the Diploma when I first heard about it, say 18 months ago or so. I thought somebody else was going to be teaching my students, and that's the way I thought about it, but I'm completely sold on the premise now. It's a very real experience and the students get a lot from it. They're punching well above their weight and that's as a result of the style of delivery.

Julian Cox, Information Technology Line Lead, Weston College: What is needed, very much so, is the dedication and the belief from staff.

Nicola Burcham, Executive Manager, Connexions, West of England: This is really a big step change in the learning experience for young people. They take the responsibility much more for how they learn and how they want to learn, and very much how they interact with both their teachers and also people like employers that are key to the delivery of Diplomas.

Graham Manson, Information Technology Line Lead, Gordano School: You need the support of your senior management team (SMT), the people who actually can make the decisions in schools need to be able to make decisions, they need to understand why they need to make the decisions. The Diploma is going to change education and it is something that has to be planned properly. It can't just be something that you are handed to start next September in July. You need planning, you need all those things that go with it to make it successful. And if it is successful, it's because you've been given those facilities in time and support from those around you.

Jenny Clark, Employer Engagement Co-ordinator: Employer engagement is crucial for the success of the Diploma and I've been fortunate enough to work in North Somerset with a really good team of people. So having committed staff, lead practitioners who are leading on the development of the Diploma is absolutely key.

Corinne Mitchell, Information Technology Line Lead, Broadoak School: To deliver the Diploma, you need to be enthusiastic about the course first of all. It's a very exciting course. You need to know the content, as well. It is a great help having a supportive senior management as well and also I have control of the Diploma budget, which means I've been able to purchase resources, for example, bespoke software for the course myself and organise transport for the students to go off to meet employers.

Steve Taylor, Deputy Head, Backwell School: It's about a different way of learning and I think it's important not to underestimate the challenge for staff to move from becoming, from being a traditional deliverer of knowledge to a facilitator in the learning process.

Marie Horton: If we find that things don't work, then we find a way of making them work, and we do that as a real partnership.

Jenny Clark: I think the Diplomas are a really exciting opportunity for young people, who previously have not been connected with the curriculum and it will help them to achieve their full potential and realise what sort of opportunities are out there because they'll learn about the whole sector.

Marie Horton: Diplomas work where practitioners and managers in institutions believe in what they're doing and we can see that where we see a real active engagement in partnership working, where we see careful planning and preparation, where we see a determination and an excitement to make a real difference to young people and that's what makes Diplomas work.

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