Provisional Low Temperature Scale of 2000

The Provisional Low Temperature Scale of 2000 (PLTS-2000) is an equipment calibration standard for making measurements of very low temperatures, in the range of 0.9 mK (millikelvin) to 1 K, adopted by the International Committee for Weights and Measures in October, 2000. It is based on the melting pressure of solidified helium-3.

At these low temperatures, the melting pressure of helium-3 varies from about 2.9 MPa to nearly 4.0 MPa. At the temperature of approximately 315 mK, a minimum of pressure (2.9 MPa) occurs. Although this gives a disadvantage of non-monotonicity, in that two different temperatures can give the same pressure, the scale is otherwise robust since the melting pressure of helium-3 is insensitive to many experimental factors.

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14–19 Diploma

The Diploma was a composite qualification in England launched in September 2008. Its development was announced in the 14–19 Education and Skills White Paper of March 2005. It was available to learners between the ages of 14 and 19, crossing the divide between general education and vocational education. It was closed by the Department for Education in August 2013, and is no longer offered to students.

Diploma lines of learning, levels, and qualification structure

Diplomas were available in a range of 14 industry/employment sectors. These were known as lines of learning (rather than subjects). These include Engineering, Creative and Media and Travel and Tourism. Diplomas were not intended as preparation for direct entry into a profession, but as a general education as well as an introduction to an industry sector from which a student might progress, either through further study in full-time education, or training.

All 14 lines of learning were available at levels 1, 2 and 3 of the National Qualifications Framework. At level 1, the Diploma was known as a Foundation Diploma and was roughly equivalent in terms of challenge and volume of study to 5 GCSE qualifications at grades D - G. At level 2, the Diploma is known as a Higher Diploma which is comparable in terms of challenge and volume of study to 7 A* - C grades at GCSE. At level 3, two sizes of Diploma were available. The Advanced Diploma was comparable in challenge and volume of study to 3.5 A-levels, whereas the Progression Diploma, involved a smaller volume of study, approximated to 2.5 A-levels.