New diplomas undermine traditional subjects and should be scrapped, says the CBI

From September, Continental-style diplomas will be introduced covering a range of subjects including engineering and construction.

Under the plans, children as young as 14 will be able to study for one of 17 diplomas, which Labour hopes will give them a more career-orientated qualification.

Controversial: The diplomas will teach skills such as welding

But the CBI - a key architect of the reforms - will today condemn three of the diplomas as ‘an unnecessary distraction’ and call for them to be scrapped.

It is concerned that vocational qualifications in humanities, languages and sciences - which will be the last subjects to be introduced in September 2011 - will lead to falling standards.

The CBI’s stance is a major blow to the Government, which is relying on business backing for the diplomas to be successful.

Richard Lambert, the CBI’s director general, said: ‘Introducing a range of science, humanities or languages diplomas runs the risk of undermining the integrity of these traditional subjects.

‘They could also be a distraction from the need to raise the numbers of young people studying science and maths.’

He warned that if the three subjects are introduced as diplomas, it could create an even bigger divide between private and state schools and lead to a ‘two-tier education system’.

Private schools would continue to do GCSEs and A-levels or the International Baccalaureate, while state schools would focus on diplomas, he added.

Michael Gove, Conservative schools spokesman, said: ‘The diploma was designed to provide industry with a skilled workforce for the 21st century but industry is saying the Government has failed on skills. Ministers are putting ideology ahead of the needs of students and the economy.’

The CBI also urges policymakers to ‘retain and improve’ GCSEs and A-levels, and to make them ‘more rigorous’.

It says both qualifications are regularly criticised for having become too easy, with universities and employers struggling to distinguish between the high numbers of students gaining A grades.

It also calls on the Government to raise literacy and numeracy standards and increase the number of pupils studying science, engineering and maths.

Yesterday Jim Knight, the Schools Minister, said he was surprised by the CBI’s response.

‘I believe the unique mixture of theory and applied knowledge the diploma offers will help boost the number of young people studying science and languages, by bringing these subjects to life and giving students the skills employers want,’ he added.