McDonald's to serve up A-levels

Last Modified: 28 Jan 2008
By: Lucy Manning

Are new qualifications, sponsored by McDonald's, Network Rail and Flybe really the way to best equip our young people for the future?

The three companies are the first to be given special powers to award nationally-accredited certificates designed to be an alternative to more traditional academic qualifications.

According to the prime minister, it's all about winning the "global skills race".

Background to the story

McDonald's has started the "basic shift manager" courses, which will train staff in all the elements of managing a burger restaurant, including customer services, marketing and human resources.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority says it has given permission after the firm asked if they could offer courses up to A-level standard.

The initiative is part of a government programme to give credit to workplace training schemes, awarding nationally-recognised qualifications based on company training schemes.

Skills Secretary John Denham said: "This is an important step towards ending the old divisions between company training schemes and national qualifications, something that will benefit employees, employers and the country as a whole."

The QCA says two other companies, Flybe and Network Rail, have been given permission to create qualifications under the programme.