Diplomas Round 3 Gateway support

1. School Improvement Service in Partnership with Lincolnshire County Council Diplomas Round 3 Gateway support Retail www.skillsmartretail.com www.qca.org.uk

2. What is the Retail Diploma about? • The purpose of the Diploma in Retail is to introduce learners to the world of retail.Each level will: • provide a blend of general education, theoretical and practical skills • expose learners to the complexities of businesses within retail and its supply chain • Bring learning to life through real experiences of the retail and supply chain sector • Enable learners to explore current and topical issues, such as environmental and ethical trading in the retail sector • Begin to develop leadership, planning and people skills in a sector which promotes young people at an earlier age than other sectors. • And the list goes on……………………

3. Structure • Principal learning provides the essential knowledge, skills and understanding for all learners within the sector covered. • Additional Specialist Learning will enable the learner to either acquire a deeper understanding of the Prinicpal Learning or to explore a topic of local or personal interest eg fashion retailing, automotive retailing, logistics etc. • Personal Learning and Thinking Skills will be implicit in all topics together with opportunities to reinforce Functional Skills.

4. Elected Topics Compulsory Topics Applied / work related learning Planning / reviewing learning PLTS Project Principal learning The number varies according to the level At L1 only to enable learners to access units from other diploma lines

5. Structure of Foundation Diploma Principal Learning Genericlearning Additional / specialist Learning Additional GCSE / other academic qualifications Sector specific qualifications

6. Structure of Higher Diploma Principal Learning Generic learning Additional / Specialist Learning Additional GCSE / other academic qualifications Sector specific qualifications

7. Structure of Advanced Diploma Principal Learning Generic learning Additional / specialist Learning Additional GCSE / A level /other academic qualifications. Sector specific qualifications

8. Generic Learning Functional skills assessed as discrete units or as part of GCSE Personal learning and Thinking Skills contextualised and embedded in principal learning Evidence related to planning and reviewing learning Minimum 10 days work experience level 1, level 2 and level 3 Project Between a quarter and a third of the diploma at each level Eg L1/2 up to 2 GCSE. L3 – 1 A level Other content – eg units from other diplomas or other qualifications Additional / Specialist Learning

9. Resources and Facilities • Must provide a Realistic Learning Environment (RLE) reflecting that found in a commercial workplace and allows students to demonstrate a full range of communication skills • Approved centres must develop realistic facilities to allow students to carry out tasks to meet assessment criteria • Must provide resources and facilities which enable students to demonstrate effective customer handling skills • Conform to H&S legislation and commercial practice

10. Workforce • Audit current workforce experience and qualifications against each principal learning topic – identify strengths and shortfall • What additional training will be needed – plans for doing this eg updating with regard to current practice by time in professional establishment • What new recruits needed? – plans for this

11. Local Employer engagement EBP: • Raising awareness amongst employers • Running diploma ready campaign 100 employers across the county – encouraging them to provide support for schools • Will broker placements for teachers in business – eg for resource development • Will broker placements for students • Will ensure that H&S and CRB checks carried out • Develop curriculum projects / resources Check what is already happening through your WRL / Enterprise co-ordinator

12. Potential Employer Activity • Encouraging young people to choose an specific diploma – at all levels there will be parent/student nights; taster sessions; marketing materials to support the young person’s selection • Offering work experience placements • Providing professional development opportunities for teachers and other deliverers. • Engaging in work related learning opportunities (e.g. employability workshops; workplace simulation/role play; work shadowing; debating sessions; industry days; survey investigation/case studies; job application and interview simulation; careers investigation; and school ambassadors) • Contributing to the development of learning materials to support the diploma. • Sponsorship of or involvement in the project element of the diploma • Becoming an mentor to learners (either face to face or virtually) • Fielding employees to Summer Schools run at local universities for level 3 learners • Fielding employees to attend regional awards ceremonies for project groups • Donating tools and equipment to give learners as realistic an experience as possible

13. Information, Advice and Guidance • Use the overview provided by Connexions as a starting point - this focuses on generic current activity. BUT, you will also need to: • Show how you are keeping IAG current and up to date • Demonstrate that you are providing current and relevant IAG on range of careers and opportunities available including employment across the diploma sector • Demonstrate how you will ensure equality of access for all learners – see pages 47- 48 of the DDP specification. How will you tackle stereotyping eg use of role models? • Demonstrate effective links with the relevant sectors to ensure that IAG reflects local provision and opportunities • All staff delivering the diploma, even if only a single unit will need to understand the diploma and the potential progression routes – see pages 34 - 46 of the DDP specification for information on progression routes