launched to help the annual 30,000 'vocation-less' school leavers

a²om : now providing the world's first BTEC driving qualification, launched to help the annual 30,000 'vocation-less' school leavers

Shocking government figures show that every year 30,000 16-year-olds leave school with no qualifications. A further 10,000 scrape through with just one GCSE at Grade D - or even below. Global companies like McDonalds and Tesco have recently begun offering alternative qualifications to help address the issue. This broad scale qualification gap comes as worrying news for the government as Jim Knight, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, recently stated that,

Our long-term goal is that every learner in this country has an engaging and comprehensible set of options that equips them well for the world of work.

In response to these depressing figures, a small private company, a²om (Alpha to Omega Motoring) has taken a bold leap. Already a step ahead of the government's anticipated recommendations in the eagerly awaited consultation paper which is rumoured to be released Wednesday 7 May a²om is now offering hope to these school-leavers in the shape of a unique BTEC qualification in Driving Science, the equivalent of a GCSE. Accredited by EdExcel, the company in charge of the government's national diploma programme, the a²om BTEC will be rolled out nationwide from early June.

Staffordshire County Council, respected for its pioneering work in promoting young driver safety, is the first council to take advantage of the scheme and is expected to be joined by many more. Adrian Hide, Road Safety Manager, Staffordshire County Council commented

We are delighted to be first since young people in our community have long been in dire need of encouragement like this. Ahead of the government, a²om is providing hope to school leavers across the country and we are delighted to be working in partnership with them.

The qualification has also been commended by HRH Prince Michael of Kent, GCVO and Patron of the Global Road Safety Commission, who said,

I am delighted to see a²om's national BTEC scheme bringing to the UK some of the most advanced learning from around the world. a²om is to be commended for its initiative to counter some of the significant problems affecting young drivers and their passengers, as well as delivering an academic and vocational qualification for the young driver that may also broaden the base of employment opportunity for those opting for the a²om course over a simple driving test.

Also applauding the development was Adrian Walsh, director of RoadSafe, who said,

Being able to drive is an important route to employment, and should be embedded in our education system; driving well provides a route to continued employment - this breakthrough will give young people a chance in life which was just not there before.

Given that 3,175 people died in road crashes last year, the benefit of a²om's initiative is two-fold as the course will make these young people safer drivers for life, as well as rewarding them with a vocational qualification. The ground-breaking scheme will be deployed immediately through the existing countrywide network of independent approved driving instructors (ADIs), who enrol onto a²om's specially designed training programme to qualify to teach driving to this accredited level.

Gary Austin, former head of the Driving Standards Agency and Board Director of the a²om group, says,

a²om has developed a syllabus that ensures all the young people who enrol will gain a BTEC to be proud of, which will raise their self-esteem and chances as they enter the job market. They will also drive safely and more economically for the rest of their lives.

The syllabus uses world best practice and includes interactive software that allows the learner to practice life saving higher order driving skills such as eye scanning, hazard perception and risk management from the safety of their home computer. Recent large scale research found that a²om's unique e-learning training improved attitudes of the participants to risk taking such as speeding, close following and overtaking. It has also been proven to improve young drivers' eye movement patterns and hazard perception skills: key components in a safe driver.