New scheme could offer students more routes to higher education

Further education students may be able to take first-year university degree modules as part of a new overarching diploma proposed by the Association of Colleges, writes Tony Tysome.

A blueprint for the diploma, launched at the AoC conference, would allow higher education and lower-level work to count towards gaining the qualification. Higher education modules could be added to a student's record, along with A levels, GCSEs, vocational qualifications, key skills, work experience, voluntary work and extracurricular activities.

AoC director of curriculum and quality Judith Norrington said this would allow the diploma to dovetail with a points score and record of achievement, which are being considered as a replacement for degree classifications in HE.

It would open new routes from further education to higher education, particularly through regional arrangements being developed through the Partnerships for Progression initiative.

The AoC said its proposal was more feasible than that in the government's green paper.