TWO new qualifications are being launched in South Lakeland next month to widen options for 14 to 19-year-olds.

Diplomas in creative media and business will be delivered in the county and more than 60 youngsters have signed up.

In September 2010, six more Diplomas will be unveiled in subjects including hospitality, sport and active leisure, construction and engineering.

Designed to complement GCSEs, A Levels and Apprenticeships, Diplomas will help young people develop work-relevant skills, alongside essentials such as English, maths and ICT.

However, Ellen Wealleans, Diploma development co-ordinator at Cumbria County Council, stressed that Diplomas would not replace existing qualifications, as GCSEs and A Levels were incorporated into the course.

“At the end of the course, each student will get a transcript listing all the qualifications they’ve achieved on their Diploma course,” she said. “So they won’t just get a Diploma in the subject area they have chosen, like business – all the individual qualifications that make it up are included.”

The Creative & Media Diploma is on offer at Kendal College, Queen Katherine School in Kendal and Queen Elizabeth School in Kirkby Lonsdale.

The business Diploma is on offer at Kirkbie Kendal School and Kendal College. Both courses will see pupils focus on their chosen subject on one day and study the core curriculum for the rest of the week.

For more information contact ellen.Wealleans@cumbriacc.gov.uk.