Students studying the course for new diploma qualification are expected to reach the grade in maths and English, told the Senior Education Chiefs. Bolton Council educational authorities told that students Mathematics, English and ICT skills had to be good if they intended to achieve good score in the diplomas, which were piloted in the Borough. Their comments were backed by David Waugh, the Borough's Diploma Co-ordinator and Deputy Head-teacher of Rivington and Blackrod School in Horwich, and follow an Ofsted report into the qualification which found the teaching and learning of the core subjects was 'patchy'.
Since the introduction last September, a handful of students have opted to study one of nine diplomas, that include society, health and development; engineering; construction and the built environment; creative and media; and hair and beauty. Educational authorities conceded that there had not been a great take-up for the courses, but they also believed that interest would increase as they become more established. Less than half of students in Bolton achieve five A to C grade GCSEs, including English and Mathematics.