FROM next month there will be two major changes in the education system, which could have a marked impact on future A-level results.

Most significantly, will be the introduction of the new diplomas for 14 to 19-year-olds.

The new qualification has already gained support from 235 higher education institutions, including the University of Worcester, which have all confirmed they will accept applicants who have achieved an advanced diploma (worth 3.5 A-levels) or an extended advanced diploma (4.5 A-levels).

The diplomas, which combine learning in the classroom with practical experience, will be offered in subject areas including construction and the built environment, Hair and beauty studies, Business, administration, and finance, Environmental and land-based studies, Society, health and development, Creative and media, Information technology, Engineering, and Hospitality and catering.

They will be introduced in parts of the country this September, but will not be available to Worcestershire students until September 2009.

For those students continuing to choose A-levels, there will be the introduction of a new A* grade next month.

Only candidates achieving at least 90 per cent will be eligible for this new grade.

The A* has been introduced specifically to meet complaints from top-flight universities that with so many students achieving the top A grade, it was impossible to distinguish one apparent high-flier from another.

Currently about 26,000 students get three A-level passes at grade A. But according to the Department for Children, Schools and Families, only about 3,000 A-level candidates will gain three of the coveted A* grades, with a further 11,000 gaining two passes at this grade.