A NEW and unique Welsh qualification is exciting educationalists and business leaders, Education Minister Jane Davidson claimed yesterday. The Assembly's education supremo said the new Welsh Baccalaureate had been approved by university authorities and gained the support of the CBI. She told the Daily Post: "The Welsh Bac is innovative. It's a new qualification developed by the Welsh Joint Education Committee and the Welsh Assembly Government. The Welsh Bac is distinctive, modern and proudly Welsh." A six-year pilot project to develop and test the qualification, for 16-18 year olds initially, is to be carried out - incorporating existing qualifications together with a common core curriculum. Four schools in North Wales - Ysgol Bryn Elian, Colwyn Bay; Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Ruthin; Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, Wrexham, and Coleg Menai, Bangor - will take part in the project from September. Ms Davidson said: "The core is the unique part of the Welsh Baccalaureate and the emphasis will be on "learning by doing" with the students having the opportunity to participate in interesting, enriching experiences of working with employers, being involved in an enterprise activity as well as working in the community, all of which will equip them with the skills to progress into further and higher education, training and employment. "Emphasis will be given to developing and acquiring the key skills of communication, application of number, IT, working with others, problem solving, and improving own performance,"she said. "The common core curriculum, the individual students' options and their own interests will provide opportunities to develop these skills." In addition, they will gain the added value of the breadth, particularly in terms of skills and experiences, as well as the opportunity to gain other qualifications such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award, the European Computer Driving Licence and Sports Leadership Awards. Last night Ms Davidson opened the new £1.6m school building extension at Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Ruthin. | 
