Diploma Bids - Construction, Creative and Media and IT
Learning for Life Diploma Development Plan
Construction bid summary
Building on the success of the collaboration between the Construction Design Centre and three local schools for the Young Apprenticeship in Construction (where all the 15 students have been retained on the course following careful selection including coverage of equal opportunities issues and with successful work experiences already completed), this consortium proposes a similar model including an Academy which opened in Sept 2006.

Centres involved and the units they will deliver:-

• The Local Authority Construction Design Centre- Level 1 & 2 Principal Learning and Specialist Learning and integration with schools on personal learning and thinking skills (currently delivering FC BCO, BTEC introductory award certificate and diploma and BTEC first Diploma in Construction and Built Environment)
• The Sheffield College - Level 3 Principal Learning Level 3, Specialist and Additional Learning, PLTS and Functional Skills as required. Support for Level 2 with materials testing and CAD, project management (currently delivering BTEC 1st, BTEC National and HNC)
• Sheffield Hallam University Built Environment Department Support for all levels with materials testing, modelling techniques, surveying, measuring and quantification and project management and other areas where appropriate.
• Sheffield University- support for the design element of the diploma
• Sheffield Park Academy, Newfield School, City School and Hinde House School delivering additional learning and functional skills and PLTS and exploring career pathways in construction and the built environment.

For applied learning, this consortium can draw on :-

• significant financial and human resource support from the 5 major companies and their supply chain at the core of the Sheffield Homes one billion pound refurbishment programme.

• ConstructionSkills who provide regular links to local industry, labour market information, support with marketing and equal opportunity issues.
  

• Employer Partners – Kier, Keepmoat, Connaught, Mears, Lovells, Taylor Woodrow – involved in the development of the curriculum and already committed to work placements.

Creative and Media bid summary

Building on the success of the existing Creative and Media work in Sheffield ranging from BTEC to iMedia underpinned by specialist schools and strong collaborative links between the two Colleges and Sheffield Hallam, the consortium consists of 10 providers (8 schools including 1 academy & both FE colleges) plus Sheffield Hallam University.

Centres involved and the units they will deliver:-

All providers are equipped as centres in several disciplines, though principal and specialised learning will involve cross-institution mobility. Practical groupings are essential in a large city so the consortium takes account of Local Area Partnerships, Specialist Schools and vocational experience, involving the citywide CLC network and FHE partnership.

Consortium plans involve a comprehensive approach to entry points and progressions.

For applied learning, Sheffield has a Cultural Industries Quarter which will provide work experience opportunities (more details are in the employer engagement section) working with Screen Yorkshire, Game Republic and Design Works networks.

IT bid summary

Building on the success of the introduction of IPRO at level 2 in six schools, the consortium consists of 10 providers (7 schools & both FE colleges) plus Sheffield Hallam University, 5 City Learning Centres and the Sheffield College IT CoVE.

All providers are equipped to act as centres, though principal and specialised learning will involve cross-institution mobility. Practical groupings are essential in a large city so the consortium takes account of Sheffield’s 4 Local Area Partnerships, Specialist Schools and vocational experience and involves city wide FHE partnership.

Centres involved and the units they will deliver:-

Consortium plans involve a comprehensive approach to entry points and progressions:

For applied learning the consortium can draw on the network established through Digital South Yorkshire which brings together 35 specialist IT employers.

This is a strong basis in terms of breadth and practice, but more needs to be done; eg:

• Learning ladders from Level 2 at KS4 to appropriate FE provision
• Engagement of Special Schools and mainstream pupils with disabilities.

NB: Sheffield will also be starting the Engineering Diploma from 2008

For further information contact Nick Duggan