Nottingham schools will be offering four more National Diploma courses from next year. It means City students will have the choice of nine areas of study from September 2009, many of them specifically addressing skills shortages in the East Midlands.

They involve three-way partnerships between schools, colleges, training providers, Nottingham City Council and local industry who can offer workplace training and experience. Schools Minister Jim Knight has announced the extension of diploma courses for the City in 18 months time.

The first five 14-19 National Diplomas courses will be available from this September and cover the construction industry, creative and media industries, engineering, information technology and social health and care professions. Up to 500 students are expected to start diploma courses this year.

The new courses, that will become available in 18 months time, are in manufacturing, hair and beauty, hospitality and catering, and business, administration and finance sector.

The Foundation and Higher Diplomas will be equivalent to GCSEs and the Advanced Diploma will be equivalent to three A’ levels and enable students to get university places.

Local businesses will get involved by working in one of the diploma partnerships, talking to pupils in school, offering work placements and setting up projects.

Councillor Jane Urquhart, Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio holder for Children’s Services, said: "The National diplomas are crucial to providing young people with new and different styles of learning and this is a wonderful opportunity to establish a broader curriculum on offer for our young people.

"With business and administration a priority in Nottingham and manufacturing a priority in the East Midlands, the new subjects help address the skills shortages in the City and across the region and highlight the joint collaboration and strength of the partnerships that have been formed in the city between schools, colleges, other training providers, employers and the City Council. "