Some 36,000 teenagers took up one of the government’s new Diploma courses this autumn,
official figures show.
This is nearly 4,000 fewer than expected. Ministers estimated earlier this year that
40,000 youngsters would be on one of the courses this autumn.
Ministers want Diplomas which combine practical and academic learning to replace GCSEs
and A-levels in England.
Some 11,326 pupils took one of the five courses introduced in September 2008. A
further five subjects began in 2009.
Diploma courses in engineering, construction, IT, creative and media and health were
introduced in some schools in September 2008.
A further five, in business, environmental studies, hair and beauty, hospitality and
manufacturing, were introduced this September.
The figures also reveal that the Diplomas introduced last year are more popular than
those which began for the first time this autumn.
The figures from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, show that 36,441
teenagers are now taking a Diploma qualification.
The creative and media Diploma is the most popular at all levels, with 9,850
youngsters taking the course in total.
Manufacturing and product design is the least popular, with just 144 youngsters taking
the course at all levels in total.
Schools Minister Iain Wright said: “I am delighted that the figures show that the
number of learners taking the Diploma has trebled since last year.
“This significant increase is powerful testimony to the appeal of this qualification
and more evidence that this new and exciting qualification is growing ever more
popular.”
Students can take a course at three different levels – foundation, which is equivalent
to five GCSEs at grades D-G, higher, which is equivalent to seven GCSEs at grades A*-
C, and advanced, which is equivalent to 3.5 A-levels.
The government originally suggested that up to 50,000 youngsters might take the
courses in their first year of operation.
In her annual report, published yesterday, Kathleen Tattersall, head of England’s
exams regulator Ofqual, warned the Diploma would need “simplification” if it were to
be taken by large numbers of students.

Nearly ￡5m has been paid in bonuses to staff at a funding body criticised for the
“catastrophic mismanagement” of a college re-building scheme in England.
Figures released to the Conservatives show the money was shared by 3,106 staff at the
Learning and Skills Council for the year to March.
The LSC was also criticised last year over delays in learning grants.
The government said two managers behind the schemes had no bonus this year and the LSC
was delivering on priorities.
Officials at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said the two managers
had specific accountability for Capital [spending] and the Educational Maintenance
Allowance (EMA) scheme – which was beset by delays last autumn.
Members of the management group would have substantial parts of their bonus withheld
this year because of “reputational issues” associated with these areas.
A spokesman for the department said: “The Learning and Skills Council achieved strong
delivery against government priorities. For example, it met the 2010 target of 2.25m
Skills for Life achievements two years early; learner success rates have risen from
59% in 2000/01 to 78% in 2006/07.
“These bonuses reflect this performance.”
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) had contracted out the EMA scheme to a private
firm Liberata, which subsequently lost its contract.
But the Conservatives, who obtained the details through a parliamentary question, have
attacked the bonus payments.
Shadow Universities and Skills Secretary David Willetts said: “It is difficult to see
how payouts like these can be justified at a time when public services are being cut
and hardworking families are struggling to make ends meet.
“The LSC’s mismanagement has left colleges deeply in debt and students in temporary
classrooms, yet bonuses paid for ‘outstanding’ work are at record levels.”
In 2009, ￡4,868,463 was paid in bonuses to LSC staff – ￡200,000 more than in the
previous year.
The funding body’s chief executive Mark Haysom resigned in March, shortly before
publication of the damning independent report on the building programme.
Mr Haysom did not receive a bonus payment for the year to March but took six months
salary in lieu of notice.
The LSC’s annual report shows he did receive a bonus for the previous year (up to
March 2008) amounting to ￡36,000.
A statement from the LSC says: “Bonus payments to staff are subject to organisational
performance and are based on the achievement of public service agreement targets.
Bonuses are agreed and paid when a range of targets have been met that are agreed at
the beginning of the year.
“In March 2009, these targets were met or exceeded.
“We are very clear that bonus payments, even when targets have been met are subject to
affordability. Both our bonus system and the separate pay system operate within HM
Treasury guidance on pay.”
The targets measured on included increasing the percentages of teenagers and adults
achieving certain qualifications and completing apprenticeships.
The measure on colleges refers to “Further Education College success rates”.
The LSC was criticised in the independent inquiry into the handling of a ￡2.3bn
budget for 2008-11 for the rebuilding of colleges in England.
In short, the body had promised colleges funds for rebuilding projects after it had
used up its budget.
Colleges had invested money in preparing their bids for the cash.
Report author Sir Andrew Foster said “the crisis was predictable and probably
avoidable” and blamed poor management.
He said the crisis could have been mitigated if action had been taken earlier and that
as early as February 2008, the LSC had been warned of a likely overspend, but this was
not acted upon.
MPs on the Commons Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee later
complained of the “catastrophic mis-management” of the scheme.
The cross-party group called on the government to review the way all such quangos
operate, so that such a situation could not happen again.

A man has been charged with stalking actors Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck, after
police said he showed up at their daughter’s nursery.
Steven Burky was arrested on Monday at the Los Angeles school where one of the
couple’s daughters is enrolled.
The 37-year-old was charged with stalking and violating a restraining order protecting
the family.
He pleaded not guilty at a court hearing on Thursday and was ordered to be held on
$300,000 (￡185,000) bail.
The judge also ordered him to stay 500 feet away from Garner, Affleck and their family
if released.
Mr Burky was charged with two counts of stalking, considered a serious offence, and
two counts of the lesser offence of violating a court order.
A criminal complaint filed in the case alleges Mr Burky harassed the Hollywood couple
and made credible threats that placed both “in reasonable fear” for the safety of
their family.
Alias star Ms Garner was granted a restraining order against Mr Burky in November 2008
after she told the court she believed he posed a threat to her and her family.
She claimed he has stalked her since 2002.
The order, which prohibited Mr Burky from being within 100 yards of the family’s cars,
homes and schools, was due to expire in November 2011.
Jennifer Garner has appeared in the TV series Alias and several films, such as Juno
and 13 Going On 30.
Ben Affleck won an Oscar in 1997 with co-star Matt Damon for writing the screenplay to
Good Will Hunting.

Doctor Who head writer Russell T. Davies said he was proud of the recent episodes that
the end of the reign of David Tennant as the Timelord.
Fi-Davies, who returns the string-pullers sci-show in 2005, said even he was not sad,
the show producer to leave.
It’s the end for us, but not the end of Doctor Who, he told the BBC.
He spoke at a preview of an episode of the last story Tennant, The End of Time.
Every little sad that I did when I wrote, so I then something out of my system. Then I
could go back and laugh when all blubbing their eyes, says Davies.
I’m very proud of these two effects, he said. Now I’m just happy to be honest, did
really happy with what we have.
We have one or two surprises before the result expected on New Year’s – and perhaps
not exactly what you are. Tennant, is replaced by actor Matt Smith, who appeared as a
doctor 11 in the next year.
Davies said that in conjunction with Steven Moffat, who kept his post as director of
the Doctor Who show runner’s.
It takes time to message me, telling the whole time everything becomes a nightmare,
and it has never been happier in his life, says Davies.
I have some scripts – that have brilliant – I can not say what irritates and coming
darkness and comedy. The story of Christmas in the BBC One has the return of Bernard
Cribbins, Catherine Tate and John Simm as the master, the evil Dr. Nemesis.
It’s crazier than ever before, said Simms. He is not limited to the script for the
absurd that it should be. It was fun to do. He added: I do not think it so scary – I
think we may frighten children at Christmas. But I’m eight years old child, life on
Mars star said he had an honor which placed be until the last story of Doctor back 10.
His words received from the actress Catherine Tate as Donna Noble, the reflected
returns.
I’m so glad that I was one of just him, not to mention, was a partner and also in the
final two episodes of David – is a great honor. Tate said, was his lack of
experience, a balance Tennant Doctor Who encyclopedic knowledge on the shelf.
He’s a lot of white, and I do not know, and we are in the middle, he said.
I turned to the day and say, I do not really understand what is happening in this
scene, and go: Well, it is a meta-crisis, and it was a kind of transformation, and it
means nothing to me.
But at least I learned my lines. Tate said he was willing to participate in medical
conferences.
I’ve heard they are very interesting and I’d rather go to one. … I think it’s
exciting and a little scary. Let’s face it, I am the person in the room who knows the
least. The End Times: Part 1 is on BBC One at 1800 GMT on New Year’s Day, Part 2
night about 1840 GMT.

The snow has caused traffic problems outside London and the London escaped the worst
of the weather.
The flights were two hours in the City, Heathrow and Gatwick, but was delayed all the
slopes are still open.
Some trains from Kings Cross Station, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk have been canceled,
but there are major problems on local roads.
More snow and ice later in the night in London and hopes that the South East of
England.
Southeastern trains between London, Canterbury, Folkestone, Dover, Ashford and
Maidstone returned to normal after discontinuation of service before.
However, First Capital Connect rail company further interference, especially from
King’s Cross and passengers are advised to check before you travel.
It was also reported delays in train service, Stansted Express train to Stansted
Airport and Gatwick Express.
Eurotunnel and services for passengers from Folkestone to France were suspended due to
bad weather in northern France.
Most schools in London, were open, but in 10 schools in Harrow, northwest London, was
one of those who stayed closed.
Harrow Council to put 165 tons of salt and seven hours away.
The authority of the Assistant City Manager Susan Hall said: North London was indeed
fallen during the night, but who work in schools, the roads always clear and to keep
our roads safe.