Only 58 students have completed the new advanced construction and built environment diploma course, reported the Construction Enquirer website. Figures published this week by the Joint Council for Qualifications show only 58 people sat the first two-year course with none achieving an “A” Grade.
Only 10.3 per cent received a “B” grade, with 27.6% receiving a Grade “C” and 24.1% scoring Grade “D”.
A “B” grade, which is equivalent to 250 UCAS points, is likely to secure the holder a place at university.
8.6 per cent of students were Unclassified, the highest percentage of all diploma students who failed to pass in their subject area, and 29.3% were rated Grade “E”.
Nick Gooderson, Head of Standards and Qualifications at ConstructionSkills defended the figures in Construction Enquirer: “The results issued today were just for the Advanced Diploma, the results for the Higher level will be published on the 24th.
“The Diploma is just one route available into a career in construction, and as with any new qualification, interest in the course will be relatively low at first and build year on year.
“The numbers of young people opting to take the Advanced Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment are comparable with other subjects.
“None of the Diploma courses had more than 160 learners receiving results today,” he said.
However, the figures also reveal that almost three times the number of students took the Advanced Diploma in other subjects. There were 160 students in creative and media, 146 in engineering, 116 in Information Technology and 114 in Society, Health and Development, leaving Construction trailing with just 58. The exam was completed by 56 boys and 2 girls.
Big names like Wates, Balfour Beatty, Lovell, Kier and Bovis Lend Lease have helped to support the diploma since its launch in 2008.
It was hailed as an alternative to GCSEs and A Levels and supporters claimed that it would revolutionise construction training. Supporters of the diploma believe future numbers will increase.
