Ministers must scrap GCSEs and A-levels for new diplomas to succeed, say teachers

Thousands of pupils will favour traditional exams unless the Government simplifies its proposed testing system, they warned.

And parents will be reluctant to take a "leap of faith" and enter their children for diplomas if they are unlikely to survive a battle with long-established qualifications.

The Association of School and College Leaders has called on ministers to absorb A-levels and GCSEs into the diplomas to avoid a "head-to-head" battle.

The demands came as Secretary for Schools Ed Balls unveiled a super diploma, worth up four and a half A-levels, for the brightest pupils.

The announcement further angered members of the union who, at their conference in Brighton, condemned the already - complex system as it emerged 119 variations will be available in 17 subjects.

The qualifications are designed to mix practical skills with academic theory and will be available at different levels equating to GCSEs and A-levels.

Five of the proposed 17 subject areas will be introduced in some schools from September, with around 40,000 pupils lined up to take them.

The rest will be phased in by 2011 in direct competition with GCSEs and A-levels.

Ministers have refused to guarantee the future of A-levels and GCSEs beyond a review scheduled for 2013.

There are, however, already signs of flagging demand among schools trialling the diploma. ASCL general secretary Dr John Dunford said comprehensives in middle-class areas battling with grammars and fee-paying schools to attract pupils were particularly reluctant to agree to offer early diplomas.

Dr Dunford said: "One of the risks is that take up for September in some institutions is unviable and therefore those courses won't run."

He said the "way forward" was to bring all qualifications under the umbrella of an 'English baccalaureate', based on the French testing system, that would be termed a general diploma.

"Most importantly the general diploma would avoid the head-to-head collision in the marketplace with GCSE and A-level and bring a greater degree of certainty for schools and colleges planning diploma provision," he added.

Malcolm Trobe, former ASCL president and a member of the Government's expert advisory group on diplomas, warned of problems generating demand for the qualifications.

Mr Trobe, head of Malmesbury School in Wiltshire said: "We are finding a little difficulty in recruitment.

"A lot of information about the detail of the diplomas is actually coming out quite late."

Jane Lees, the president elect of the ASCL, said: "Schools want to be involved in it but they don't want to take that leap of faith too soon."

However, Mr Balls rejected the ASCL's suggestion.

"It's true there are some people who say the only way to make these diplomas work is to abolish A-levels now," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"I think that is the wrong thing to do."