The Project

The Diploma is a new constituent qualification introduced in 2008 as part of the 14-19 Reform Programme. Learners have to complete components including principal learning in their chosen line of learning, demonstrate sufficient personal, learning and thinking skills (PLTS), achieve a minimum standard in English, Maths and ICT, do a project and complete 10 days of work experience.

QCA has been leading the Minerva project to develop the Diploma aggregation service (DAS), a managed IT system that supports Diploma administration and award.  DAS holds an account for each learner, records their progress on all the components and indicates when a Diploma can be claimed.

The key benefits of DAS are that it provides a central system for Diploma centres and awarding bodies. It automatically aggregates results according to predefined rules of combination to reduce the possibility of human error and speed up the award process.

Objectives

The objectives of Minerva are to deliver:

• Diploma awarding enabling functions (results aggregation and data sharing)
   
• Phased roll out of the service between September 2008 and September 2011
   
• A structure for the continuous management of the service, safeguarding its continued usage, the delivery of benefits and protection of the public interest. 

Stages

The project comprises 10 stages:

• Stages 1 – 3 (March 2006 to September 2007): Scoping and launching the project, capturing detailed requirements and procuring solutions.
   
• Stage 4 – 8 (September 2007 to September 2008): Designing, building, testing and implementing Releases 1 and 2 of DAS.
   
• Stage 9 (September 2008 to March 2009): Designing, building, testing and implementing Release 3 of DAS.
   
• Stage 10 (late March 2009): Project close.

Stages 9-10 are running in parallel with the live operation of DAS Release 2.

Structure

In order to deliver Stages 9-10, the project has been structured into six packages:

• Technical Assurance: providing the technical review, approval, assurance expertise and capability of the system produced by Steria
   
• Business Assurance: capturing delivery partner requirements, steering ongoing development of the business operational model and business assurance, identifying and resolving delivery chain issues, and managing the policy interface
   
• Readiness and Implementation: preparing the operational environment and ensuring successful delivery in a seamless and coordinated manner
   
• Commercial: making sure the appropriate commercial arrangements are in place with users
   
• Test Assurance: ensuring system tests are rigorous, and fulfilling User Acceptance Tests activities on behalf of users
   
• System Build: the Diploma aggregation service will be delivered by Steria, who will ensure that it meets the specifications set out in the Contract.

For further information please use the following links:
System Design
Technical Interfaces
Business Readiness
Post Implementation Support

You can monitor our progress using the Project Management updates to the Governance meetings.