CBI criticises diplomas

The CBI has added its considerable weight to calls for the Government’s new Diplomas to be scrapped.

The five diplomas are due to be launched this autumn. They include the Construction and the Built Environment Diploma which contractors have already criticised for having a watered down vocational element.

Now the CBI has weighed in, in a move which will seriously undermine the new Diplomas’ credibility.The Confederation's concerns centre on the planned inclusion of a more academic strand of Diplomas.

CBI chief Richard Lambert warned that the Diplomas could lead to a "fractured, two-tier, education system” with private schools opting for GCSEs and A-levels while state schools use Diplomas.  Hecalled for the Government to go back to the drawing board.