Figures crash for new construction diploma

Just over 1500 students signed up for the new construction diploma last month – 8,500 less than first predicted and down 1554 on Government figures released in July.

The poor response raises questions about the future of the Construction and the Built Environment Diploma which was launched by Education Secretary Ed Balls this year alongside four new Diplomas in creative and media; engineering; information technology; and society, health and development.

The Department of Children Schools and Families (DCSF)  estimated around 10,000 students would sign up for each Diploma, when they were launched last year. But this figure was revised down after a poor response from students. By July only 3054 students had opted to take up the Construction Diploma, according to DCSF figures.

However by September, when the colleges opened their doors, that figure was down by half.

ConstructionSkills took a bullish view. Nick Gooderson, head of standards and qualifications said he was pleased by the response and anticipated "as many as 8,000 more students" starting the Diploma next year.

He attributed the lower numbers to the lack of time students had to decide their options and said more had to be done to make parents and students aware of the course.

Joe Johnson, training director at the Civil Engineering Contractors Association said the low take up was good news. “The lower the better. It will allow training consortia and the industry to develop a quality product which will boost numbers next year.”

But he said he doubted 8,000 students would sign up next year. “That figure needs to be revised down or the education department is going to look foolish.”

The Conservatives said the Diploma launch was “a flop” after Ed Balls this week revealed a total of only 12,000 children had opted to take the five new Diplomas.

Michael Gove, the Shadow Children’s Secretary, said: “First they said they expected 50,000, then 38,000, then 20,000 and now we discover that just 12,000 are actually taking the new qualifications.” He warned that parents would lose confidence in the new qualification.