Balls overestimated Diploma takeup

The following surprisingly balanced journalistic masterpiece by someone by the name of Anthea Lipsett, expounds on figures - estimated and actual - for the Diploma in 2008.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/oct/14/1419education-furthereducation1

It begins:

"Only 12,000 pupils started the government's new diploma qualification this September, the schools secretary, Ed Balls, confirmed yesterday. It is a steep drop from the 20,000 students ministers estimated in May would start diplomas, and almost a quarter of the 50,000 originally expected. "

The reason for the "flop" (according to the article)

"Opposition MPs said the diploma had "flopped". Ministers hope the diplomas will become the qualification of choice, above GCSEs and A-levels. But exam boards warned earlier this year of technical problems and a lack of training among teachers."

The conclusion? (according to the article)

"Balls insisted that his department had received "positive feedback" from teachers and students on diplomas. Leading universities had now said they would consider applications from students with diplomas, he said, and the first independent school, Wellington College, was to offer the new engineering diploma in September 2009.
The schools minister, Jim Knight, said the government had focused on "quality, not quantity" with the diplomas. "We are making good progress, as last month's positive Ofsted report confirmed.""