TEN Westleigh and Bedford High students, who faced leaving school without qualifications, have been given a new start.

In a radical move they have started NVQ courses at Wigan and Leigh College.

They will drop every subject apart from GCSE maths and English to concentrate on car mechanics, brick laying or plumbing.

And the college will guarantee the pupils a place on the course next autumn if they do well.

The initiative comes as part of Leigh's Education Action Zone, launched last year to transform achievement in deprived areas.

Westleigh headteacher, Mr Stephen Preston, said: "The aim of the new programme is to give a small number of students a new start in trying to achieve something before leaving school.

"These students were in danger of leaving with no qualifications, now they will get GCSE English and maths as well as these NVQs."

Edward Ord, one of the selected students, said: "I am really looking forward to this. It is exciting to do something different. NVQs will be better for me than GCSEs as they are more hands on and will help get me a job."

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