A COLLEGE is set to become the first in East Lancashire to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma programme.

St Mary's College, Blackburn, has been accepted as the borough's nominated provider of IB, an internationally recognised two-year qualification offered to school leavers as an alternative to A levels, and is hoping to offer it from September 2009.

In 2006, under former Prime Minister Tony Blair, the government made £2.5million available to ensure every local authority had at least one centre offering IB.

The IB is broader than A levels while still allowing students to specialise in certain subjects, which has made it popular with both universities and employers.

Students take a maximum of six curriculum subjects, with three at higher level and three at standard level, and have to submit an extended essay in the subject of their choice.

The six subjects are: their own language, a second language, an arts subject, a science subject, maths or computer science, and a subject from the individuals and societies' group, such as history, geography, economics, or philosophy.

Other, defining, parts of the IB include the interdisciplinary theory of knowledge (TOK), which explores the nature of knowledge and other cultural perspectives, and creativity, action, service (CAS), which encourages students to be involved in arts activities, sports, and helping in the community, to raise their awareness and appreciation of life outside the academic arena. Centres who wish to offer the IB have to submit to a rigorous authorisation process.

In October St Mary's was accepted as an interested school and has now passed the first stage of the submission process.

Funded with a £26,000 grant from the Learning and Skills Council, staff are currently undergoing extensive training and delegates from the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) will visit the Shear Brow college next year to give the final seal of approval.

There are currently 129 IB centres in the UK, with two in Lancashire: Rossall School in Fleetwood, and Lancaster and Morecambe College.

Principal Kevin McMahon said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for future students of St Mary's.

"Of course, A levels will also continue at the college but now students will have another choice in the IB. We know that many universities are particularly keen on the qualification and we need to ensure that our young people can compete for the very top places".

St Mary's is holding an information evening on the IB for pupils and parents of year 10 on Thursday at 6.30pm.