THE education of 14 to 19-year-olds in Bolton is facing a major shake-up.

Teenagers will be able to drop some GCSEs and A Levels in favour of new diploma courses, starting from September next year.

Bolton will be one of the first areas in the country to offer the qualifications, which are designed to prepare pupils for work as well as further and higher education.

Local businesses will become involved with the courses, which will focus on construction and the built environment; engineering; society, health and development; IT; and creative arts and the media.

Each diploma will be available at three levels, the most basic being equivalent to four or five GCSEs. Level two will be equivalent to five or six GCSEs, and level three will be equivalent to three A-levels.

The traditional option of taking nine GCSEs will still remain for students, but the new courses on offer will differ from the vocational GCSEs introduced seven years ago, which were not business-led.

Pupils will be able to study for the new diplomas in the workplace as well as in schools and colleges.

The Government will give Bolton and each other education authority chosen to implement the new qualification money to help pay for it.

Simon Cronin, spokesman for Bolton Chamber of Commerce Council, said: "More vocational training is to be welcomed because we have had a skills shortage, which is being filled by people from other countries.

"Giving young people a chance to try other routes at school, such as construction, could engage them in education and keep them in learning longer.

"But it is important to have the maths and literacy skills as well.

"If these form part of the diploma then they are to be welcomed."

John Baumber, executive principal of the Brook Learning Partnership - made up of Rivington and Blackrod High School and Ladybridge High School - said the diplomas would benefit the young people of Bolton.

He said: "These diplomas are different in the fact that they are not only practical courses, but also underpinned with technical knowledge, such as functional maths and English, together with a personal learning development component to develop skills such as team building.

"Children choosing to do these diplomas will spend two days a week on the courses, but will still have time to be able to choose other options."

He added that Bolton being picked as one of the first areas to pilot the scheme would put children in the borough ahead of others nationally.