State schools to introduce US-style graduation ceremonies for sixth-formers

State schools will stage the first US-style graduation ceremonies for school leavers from this September.

George Abbot, a comprehensive school in Guildford, Surrey, with 2,000 pupils, is one of four secondary schools to pioneer the initiative this year – but the scheme could spread across the country.

Under the initiative, first suggested by Tony Blair a year ago, all school leavers at George Abbot and three other schools in Surrey will be given a graduation certificate.

The certificate, to be handed out at a black-tie do for the youngsters and their parents at the University of Surrey, will include their academic achievements and a character profile outlining work they have done in the community and other extra-curricular activities.

Already, officials from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, the Government's exams watchdog, have shown an interest in the Surrey scheme.

Jonathan Stewart, the head of sixth-form studies at George Abbot – which has one of the largest sixth-forms in the country with 400 pupils, said: "We wanted to mark the occasion of them becoming adults and moving on and give them the chance to say goodbye to all those people they had been with throughout their schooling. It's a rite of passage, if you like.

"Previously, there was a prize-giving ceremony but it was only for the more academic youngsters. This gives an opportunity for all to participate in the graduation ceremony. We felt it was appropriate to hold it in a university because that is where most of them are moving on to."

The graduation certificate will record their A-level passes and show they have mastered important skills such as communication and using new technology. The school is not using the national key skills test because, it says, the fact that universities are placing no weight on it has made youngsters reluctant to take it. Instead, it is pioneering its own model.

The certificates will include a "citizenship element", showing the types of activities youngsters have taken part in, such as work shadowing, the Duke of Edinburgh award or sporting achievements.

"We are presenting them with a certificate they can show to any potential employee or university admissions officer," Mr Stewart said. "In the future, we could turn it into a CD-rom. That is some way down the line but it could turn some heads if the students were to present it at an interview."

The graduation certificate has certainly helped Sabrina Hicks, who is taking A-levels in English literature, classical civilisation, psychology and general studies. In her profile statement to accompany the certificate, she says: "I feel proud I have learnt to articulate my own views. Above everything, I have found that the more knowledge I gain, the more I want to learn.

The thinking behind the graduation ceremony is in line with proposals in the Government's Green Paper on reforming 14-to-19 education.