Nottingham schools is offering pupils new National Diploma courses for the first time.

Nottingham is one of the leading authorities in the country introducing the new 14-19 Diploma courses in construction and the built environment , creative and media industries, engineering, information technology and society, health and development professions from September 2008, many of them specifically addressing skills shortages in the East Midlands.

Around 200 students have signed up to the courses in Nottingham, at all three levels and at schools, colleges and training centres across the City. The Foundation and Higher Diplomas will be equivalent to GCSEs and the Advanced Diploma will be equivalent to three and a half A’ levels and enable students to access university places.

Nottingham is one of 10 councils piloting the diplomas this school year. They involve three-way partnerships between schools, colleges and local industry who can offer workplace training and experience. Local businesses get involved by working within the diploma partnerships, talking to pupils in school, offering work –related learning placements and setting up projects.

Pilot programmes have been running for the past year using existing qualifications, to ensure that teachers, training providers and employers are all working together and that administrative systems are in place well before September 2008.

Councillor David Mellen, Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio holder for Children’s Services, said: “The National Diplomas open up a wide range of new opportunities for Nottingham students, giving them wider qualifications for higher education or opportunities to get training and qualifications for work. The Diplomas involve partnerships between schools, colleges, training providers, Nottingham City Council and local industry who can offer work-related learning opportunities and experience.

"Employers have been closely involved in devising the new diplomas so that they can help give young people an overview of the variety of jobs available in different sectors of business and industry and the skills they need to join the workforce successfully, such as flexible, responsive teamwork, being able to think and work independently

"The role of the City Council and other local authorities is to broker and support suitable partnerships between schools, colleges and training providers from business and industry. The collaboration between everyone involved in providing diploma study, including our business and industry partners, is strong, and training for teachers and everyone else involved has been on-going since early 2007. We are confident everything is in place for the Diplomas to begin and that we are absolutely on track for our students this week."