Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 1,392 Location: Derby
Lad passes "getting on bus" test « Thread Started on Aug 14, 2009, 4:14pm »
A 15-year-old lad waiting for his GCSE results, was somewhat surprised to learn he'd passed exam board AQA's stringent "Using Public Transport (Unit 1)" test, which honours those able to "walk to the local bus stop, stand or sit at a bus stop, wait for the arrival of a public bus and sit on the bus and observe through the windows".
Bobby McHale was in fact unaware he'd even sat the test until he got a certificate through the post. It turned out he'd successfully completed the challenge by catching a bus while on a Bury and Rochdale Activity Generation outdoor activities scheme, run by Bury Youth Services.
Bury's Youth Support Services Manager, Barbara Lewis, explained, "This certificate isn't just about getting on the bus, it's about time management, working out bus routes and for some people, travelling alone for the first time. "We encourage people to make their own way to the range of activities on offer and work with parents by asking them not to drop them off in the car."
It seems around 300 of his fellow 11 to 15-year-old participants, including some of his mates, were similarly honoured. Sadly, Bobby's younger brother Joe, 13, failed Using Public Transport (Unit 1). And next, the "Ability to fart and chew gum at the same time" certficate, the "Shoelace Tying" certificate and the "Bike Dismounting" NVQ!
Joined: Aug 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 1,246 Location: "The Village"
Re: Lad passes "getting on bus" test « Reply #1 on Aug 14, 2009, 4:54pm »
Doe's NVQ really mean Not Very Qualified? I do not have an NVQ, However I have a certificate to say I am a NVQ assessor. how ever nobody seems to want me as I am to old, and Wood machining seems to have gone out the window as a core skill? Manufacturing is now dead in the UK!
Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 1,392 Location: Derby
Re: Lad passes "getting on bus" test « Reply #2 on Aug 15, 2009, 10:21pm »
Kids are also being given qualifications for being able to wash their hands, dress themselves and make a cup of tea. The 100-plus list of certificates also officially recognises children aged between 11 and 14 who can make a cold drink, operate a vending machine and use a self-service cafe as well use a vacuum cleaner, polish and dust, and comb and brush their hair.
All are units of an award scheme operated by the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance, the largest of the three English examination boards. The programme, operated by an estimated 1,000 youth-associated services nationwide, is Government-funded with courses costing up to £20,000. Each certificate costs £10.
Unsurprisingly, the AQA defended their life skills scheme. A spokeswoman said, “The Unit Award Scheme provides the opportunity to give students formal recognition of their success outside the normal qualifications framework. However we expect centres to ensure that candidates are entered for units that are appropriate to their needs and abilities."
Joined: Aug 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 1,246 Location: "The Village"
Re: Lad passes "getting on bus" test « Reply #3 on Aug 17, 2009, 1:00am »
Sadly I suppose some Kid's learn these skills as I did, because my father had died and my mother was out at work earning us a crust! so we did all the above plus ironing your clothes and even replacing the plug on the Iron, or changing fuses, decorating the house doing the garden and the list is endless!
My lecturer at "Tech" always said the best place to keep your certificates is in the back of the Sh-t house door!
![[Home]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/menu/home.gif)
![[Help]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/menu/help.gif)
![[Search]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/menu/search.gif)
![[Login]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/menu/login.gif)
![[Register]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/menu/register.gif)
![[Search This Thread]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/search2.gif)
![[Send Topic To Friend]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/buttons/sendtopic.gif)
![[Print]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/buttons/print.gif)
Author
![[avatar]](http://www.derbygripe.co.uk/oddsocks/police.gif)
Logged![[avatar]](http://www.dvdoutsider.co.uk/articles/graphics/prisoner_logo.jpg){kind=logo}