Q. How does the Diploma in Retail Business fit into the curriculum?
A. At Key Stage 4, Foundation and Higher Diplomas will run alongside the statutory subjects in the National Curriculum.
On the assumption that the functional and personal, learning and thinking skills (PLT's) are also taught within other subjects and across the curriculum – the Foundation Diploma Principal Learning, project and additional and specialist learning (ASL) will be 30% of the total curriculum time. At level 2 (Higher Diploma) the Principal Learning, project and ASL will add up to a total of 40% of curriculum time.
Some GCSEs can be counted towards the Diploma (as additional or specialist learning). This means there is flexibility to build in Diploma learning across the curriculum.
Q. How does the Diploma in Retail Business fit with existing qualifications?
A. Students will be able to choose to study the Diploma alongside GCSEs and A levels. These qualifications can count towards the Diploma qualification as additional and specialist learning components, along with many other qualifications accredited for 14-19 years old learners. This means there is flexibility to build in learning from across the curriculum into the Diploma.
For more information on the broad areas for ASL please go to pages 99-112 of the Line of Learning Statement. The catalogue for ASL for the Diploma in Retail Business will be available end of autumn 2009.
Q. Why should my institution teach a Diploma in Retail Business?
A. Introducing the Diploma in Retail Business in your institution provides an opportunity for students to learn core subjects within a practical setting. By putting the subjects in context students can re-engage in learning and local employers can become involved.
Retail is the UK’s largest private sector employer, providing around three million jobs. Retail encompasses a huge array of skills in areas such as buying, merchandising, logistics, supply chain, business management, marketing, accounting and IT. This gives Diploma students a wide choice of challenging, rewarding options to build a successful career in the retail business.
The Diploma provides structured learning within the context of the retail business. Students will learn functional skills of English, maths and ICT that are demanded by employers. For example, maths may be learned by calculating profit margins, product pricing and which stores should receive more stock. English language skills can be acquired by writing promotional materials and sales presentations.
Leading employers and key players in education have developed the Diploma so that it meets the demands of both education and the retail business world. Retailers are keen to work with schools and colleges in helping to deliver the qualification locally.
Q. When and how will my institution be able to get involved in teaching the Diploma in Retail Business?
A. The Diploma will be taught from September 2010 in 45 consortia or local partnership areas and in more from 2011 and 2012. There will be national entitlement from 2013. For more information please contact Fiona Stubbs, Diploma Partnership Manager by phone on 07795 962 444 or 020 7462 5084 or by email at fiona.stubbs@skillsmartretail.com.
Q. What does taking the Diploma Gateway process involve?
A. The Diploma Gateway process is an assessment procedure that checks that each consortium is able to properly deliver the Diploma locally before teaching commences. Consortia have to pass the Diploma Gateway process by completing application documentations. This focuses on their specific proposal, facilities, teaching/learning resources, support materials, workforce and employer support. More detailed information on the process for Gateway 4 can be found at Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).
Q. As a teaching professional how do I access resources to support me in the teaching of this Diploma?
A. The line of learning criteria has been published and can be found on the Ofqual website. We are developing work experience booklets for both employers and learners for all three levels of the Diploma. These will be linked to the content of the Diploma in Retail Business and available on our website
The Diploma Shop is a sub-site on this website (see tabs, top right) and will be a place where educational professionals and learners can search for information to support the learning of the Diploma in Retail Business. It will save people the time searching for knowledge, allow them to connect with experts on up to date information and support academic research and planning projects.
A tailored package of support is available for consortia delivering Diplomas. Advice on how to access this can be found at DCSF website.
Q. How best can employers support the teaching of the Diploma in Retail Business over and above the work experience element?
A. By sharing their expertise and knowledge with students. This can be done in a variety of ways. Hosting fact finding visits by small groups of students to their shops or other retail premises; giving talks in the classroom (with teacher support) and providing information about their retail business. They can also mentor one or more students or teachers offering more individual guidance and support.
Q. How should teachers plan and structure the work experience with retailers?
A. Teachers and others developing the Diploma should work closely with their local retailers to identify opportunities for work experience and other types of work-related learning. It’s important that work experience complements plans for the Diploma curriculum, provides students with good opportunities to understand the realities of working in retail and allows them to develop their personal, learning and thinking skills. Retailers should also be able to gain some benefit from having young people involved in their businesses.
The Diploma Development Partnership are developing work experience booklets for both employers and learners for all three levels of the Diploma. These will be linked to the content of the Diploma in Retail Business and available as downloads ON OUR WEBSITE (INSERT LINKS)
Q. How will a Young Apprenticeship fit into the Diploma in Retail Business?
A. The introduction of Diplomas alters the qualification landscape and it’s necessary to consider how Young Apprenticeships can adapt. From September 2008 in cohort five, 8,000 places will be available for the existing Young Apprenticeships model. Additionally, 1,000 other places will be reserved for piloting a new form of YA, delivered with the Diploma as the underpinning qualification.
Q. What facilities do we need in order to provide high quality teaching?
A. The Diploma is based on a mix of class work and practical learning and at least half the main, mandatory element should be applied, work-related learning relevant to retail. Therefore it’s important that students have opportunities to study in realistic environments with sector-standard equipment and be taught by teachers who have a good grounding in their subject. Consortia should have regular access to a high quality mock shop that has been validated by employers. Please go to the core advice document in the downloads section for more details.
Q. Will our teachers need to have retail experience?
A. At least one member of a consortium must have recent relevant retail experience of the breadth of retail and its supply chain. The aim is to provide a high quality programme for students that is relevant to the retail industry. There are different ways this can be achieved. Teachers can complement their own experience levels with a rich curriculum involving site visits, talks from employers and others in the business and by making use of industry training materials.
Q. Having a mock shop is a condition of delivering the Diploma but what is it?
A. A mock shop is a simulated, safe and protected learning environment which could be built into premises of a college, training provider or school for regular use. It is used for the learner to experience applied learning and potentially a situ for assessment for the Diploma in Retail Business. The basic requirements of a mock shop are to have the following equipment and facilities:
Electronic point of sale, Bar-code readers, Stock room, Stock supplies, Visual merchandising materials, Fixtures and fittings, including signage
There is further information on the Consortia Supporting Information document which is available as a download on the Gateway page of this section.
Q. How do I get local expertise to deliver the Diploma?
A. Help is available from a national network of skills shops. A skills shop is a one-stop business support centre that has been developed by working with retailers. It will provide retailers with access to tools and downloadable documents which will help them to develop their businesses. The Skills Shop (part of the National Skills academy) will provide practical help and specially developed support for retailers business needs.