With the government aiming to raise the number of 17 year olds in full time education from 75 per cent to 90 per cent by 2015, new kinds of courses and diplomas are being offered to young people

One of these is the Diploma in Society, Health and Development (SHD) which became available in September 2008 and is designed to provide a programme of applied and general learning relating to children's services, health, community justice and adult social care sectors.

Holsworthy Community College, Torrington Comm­unity College and Budehaven School have formed a consortium to pilot this new diploma and to enable their students to benefit from this new way of learning.

On Thursday, April 2 students from the three schools were at a community open day in Holswor­thy Memorial Hall to explain what they are learning and how their local communities and businesses are involved. Visitors had the chance to talk with the students and see the displays they had prepared and on which they were to be assessed.

For example, four Year 10 students from Holsworthy Community College, Vanessa Hutchings, Chloe Morris, Kathy Metherall and Ciara Maniglia had researched the kind of jobs there were in healthcare and the qualities and skills needed for a career in that field and had produced a comprehensive display on healthy eating.

With a display on crystals and reflexology, another group of students were explaining about a variety of crystals and their health giving properties. Else­where there was a demonstration of Indian head massage.

Staff and employers were also on hand to explain about the new qualification and visitors could take part in fun activities, competitions, and quizzes.

The course leading to the SHD blends applied learning, academic study and hands-on experience in a workplace and sets students well on the way to finding a job or to higher education.