NEW 'WELSH BAC' SITES Ysgol Bryn Elian, Colwyn Bay Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Rhuthun Ysgol Gyfun Plasmawr, Cardiff Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, Wrexham Coleg Menai, Bangor Pembrokeshire College, Haverfordwest

The Welsh Baccalaureate aims to create a broad, diverse study curriculum for students aged 16 to 18 with a wider mix of subjects.

Nineteen schools across the country will be piloting the new qualification, dubbed "WBQ", from September 2003.

Now Welsh assembly officials have unveiled a new clutch of sites set to offer the international-style set-up from September 2004.

Breadth

Assembly ministers first dicussed introducing the baccalaureate soon after their inaugural 1999 election amid growing concerns over the flexibility of A-Levels.

'WELSH BAC' CORE ELEMENT Key skills - communication, numeracy, IT, working with others, problem-solving Work-related education, careers guidance Community activities, personal/social education European awareness, including a language

Instead of taking three subjects, WBQ students first study core, practical options on contemporary Welsh life - for example employment and European awareness.

Optional subjects can then be picked from courses already on offer through A-Levels and other qualifications like GNVQs.

Emphasis on work and industrial experience will better prepare students for university or the workplace, according to Education Minister Jane Davidson.

With education bosses responsible for rolling out the WBQ, Ms Davidson is talking about the qualification with students on Monday.

She will be at Coleg Morgannwg, Pontypridd - one of the first colleges to adopt the WBQ.