A TEENAGE boy was left stunned when he was awarded a certificate - for getting the bus.

Bobby McHale, 15, could hardly believe his eyes when the document from national exam board AQA dropped through his letter box.

Entitled 'Using Public Transport (Unit 1)' it recognised, amongst other skills, his ability to 'walk to the local bus stop', 'stand or sit at a bus stop and wait for the arrival of a public bus', 'enter the bus in a calm and safe manner' and 'sit on the bus and observe through the windows'.

"He was particularly surprised because he doesn't look out the window," said dad Andy, 44, from Bury.

"He listens to his music instead."

Bobby, who wasn't even aware he had sat the test, got the certificate in the post this summer after attending a three-week holiday scheme run by Bury Youth Services.

You can see Bobby McHale's certificate for catching a bus by selecting the link below the picture 

Some of his friends also received the qualification.

But others - including Bobby's younger brother Joe, 13 - didn't make the grade.

"Maybe he wasn't up to it," joked Bobby, who is set for A grades at GCSE.

"It just seems really silly to me.

Laughing

"At first I thought I'd got some sort of GCSE early. When I read out the details to the family we all fell about laughing.

"The Bury Youth Scheme is excellent and we get the chance to a lot of different activities but I can't see the point of the certificate at all.

"I haven't bothered framing it."

Businessman Andy, who runs his own marketing company Pure Marketing Communications, said: "Bobby's face was a picture when he saw the certificate.

"To be honest we are all a little bemused.

"The Bury Youth Scheme is excellent and I can only suppose this comes from some box they have to tick in order to get funding.

"As part of it Bobby certainly travelled by bus. Maybe it's boosted his confidence because he was nominated as head boy.

"We think he may go far... so long as he gets the 135!"

The full AQA certificate reads: Bobby McHale (date of birth 22.5.94) a student at Bury Youth Service has completed the following unit of work.

Using Public Transport (Unit 1) In completing the unit the student has demonstrated the ability to:
Walk to the local bus stop.
Stand or sit at the bus stop and wait for the arrival of a public bus.
Enter the bus in a calm and safe manner.
Be directed to a downstairs seat by a member of staff.
Sit on the bus and observe through the windows.
Wait until the bus has stopped , stand on request and exit the bus.

Barbara Lewis, Youth Support Services Manager in Bury, said more than 920 young people had signed up for BRAG (Bury and Rochdale Active Generation) last year, and around 300 would have been awarded some sort of accreditation - either for sporting prowess or through an AQA qualification. Certificates cost around £10 each, she said.

"The idea is that it's about teaching young people self reliance and emotional well-being through fun and challenging activities," added Ms Lewis.

"We try to reward young people for their achievements and their social and personal development.

"This is aimed at young people aged between 11 and 15," she said.

We think he may go far... so long as he gets the 135!
Andy McHale

 "They take part in a wide variety of activities around the area over three weeks.

"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.

"For some it may be the only qualification they get."

"But it may be that the wording on the certificate doesn't properly reflect the achievement. We look at the certificates available and choose the most appropriate. It may need to look at the wording or send a covering letter better explaining the award."

AQA offers qualifications and other accreditation schemes for 14-19 year-old students in schools and colleges.