STAFF at a Leyland college say they would not rule out putting on an extra qualification to run alongside the current A-level system.

It comes as education chiefs at Runshaw College returned A-level coursework to be re-marked -- leaving students' futures hanging in the balance.

Now staff at the Langdale Road college are keeping a close eye on the Government's interest in the international baccalaureate qualification which is equivalent to A-level standard.

If given government backing the two-year diploma course, which covers three standard level and three higher level subjects, could be taught in the future.

A college spokesman said: "We are keen to broaden studies of students at the post 16 level and we will follow the developments with interest."

The A-level fiasco has put the spotlight on examination boards. Some college tutors have accused examiners of deliberately downgraded examination results to quash claims that A-levels are too easy.

Jim Smith, admissions tutor at Runshaw College, said staff have had a few problems with sociology coursework and one module in business and media A-levels, all marked by Assessment and Qualification Alliance (AQA). The sociology coursework -- which has now been sent back to be re-marked -- makes up half of the student's overall grade and could radically alter the final mark if assessed incorrectly.

Mr Smith said: "It could result in people not getting a place at university, although that hasn't happened yet."

Now the university and college lecturers' union (NATFHE) are questioning the reliance of A-levels which, they claim, are not necessarily the best indicator of a student's performance.

A spokesman for Preston College, St Vincent's Road, said college staff had also returned examination papers to be re-marked after students believed their examination results failed to match their expectation.

A percentage of those marked have now been increased.

But Ian Haselden, manager of liaison and admissions at Cardinal Newman College, Preston, rejects calls for change and believes students will benefit from a period of stability in the A-level system.