36,000 pupils take new Diplomas
Some 36,000 teenagers took up one of the government's new Diploma courses this autumn, official figures show.
This is nearly 4,000 fewer than expected. Ministers estimated earlier this year that 40,000 youngsters would be on one of the courses this autumn.
Ministers want Diplomas which combine practical and academic learning to replace GCSEs and A-levels in England.
Some 11,326 pupils took one of the five courses introduced in September 2008. A further five subjects began in 2009.
Diploma courses in engineering, construction, IT, creative and media and health were introduced in some schools in September 2008.
'More popular'
A further five, in business, environmental studies, hair and beauty, hospitality and manufacturing, were introduced this September.
The figures also reveal that the Diplomas introduced last year are more popular than those which began for the first time this autumn.
The figures from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, show that 36,441 teenagers are now taking a Diploma qualification.
The creative and media Diploma is the most popular at all levels, with 9,850 youngsters taking the course in total.
Manufacturing and product design is the least popular, with just 144 youngsters taking the course at all levels in total.
Schools Minister Iain Wright said: "I am delighted that the figures show that the number of learners taking the Diploma has trebled since last year.
"This significant increase is powerful testimony to the appeal of this qualification and more evidence that this new and exciting qualification is growing ever more popular."
Students can take a course at three different levels - foundation, which is equivalent to five GCSEs at grades D-G, higher, which is equivalent to seven GCSEs at grades A*-C, and advanced, which is equivalent to 3.5 A-levels.
The government originally suggested that up to 50,000 youngsters might take the courses in their first year of operation.
In her annual report, published yesterday, Kathleen Tattersall, head of England's exams regulator Ofqual, warned the Diploma would need "simplification" if it were to be taken by large numbers of students.
BBC News, Monday 04 January 2010 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8421186.stm