A Bradford school will become the first in West Yorkshire to scrap A-levels in favour of the international baccalaureate diploma from next week.

Rhodesway School in Allerton will no longer teach A-levels in academic subjects such as English, maths, sciences or languages.

The inner-city school has been given approval by the international baccalaureate (IB) organisation to teach the programme from the start of the new academic year.

It is one of only two schools in the region to offer the diploma along with Harrogate Grammar School.

Record-breaking A-level results last month have prompted calls for the qualification to be replaced with the IB as a more wide-ranging assessment.

Rhodesway School decided to teach the qualification two years ago and its target is to get at least 15 pupils studying for the diploma this year.

However it will continue to teach A-levels in vocational subjects not covered by the IB diploma, such as business studies and health and social care.

Students who take the IB diploma will have to sit a compulsory element in English, maths, a science and a language.

The diploma also includes a community service project and a theory of knowledge test which will involve a presentation.

The school's deputy head teacher Richard Hughes said: "The majority of our A-levels have finished, we will not be teaching A-levels in subjects covered by the IB diploma.

"Two-and-half-years ago we undertook a curriculum review and we asked the unthinkable question: 'Are A-levels the most appropriate qualification?'

"When we first considered IB people were very sceptical but when we asked the questions: Is this appropriate to our students? Will it be acceptable to universities? The answers came back in the affirmative."

Mr Hughes said the school preferred the diploma to A-levels because it recognised overall achievement across a broader range of subjects and also required the students to become involved in community activity.

Mr Hughes said: "It is an international qualification. Every subject has an international element to it. At Rhodesway we like to produce citizens of the world. It is possible to produce well-rounded students through A-levels but you have to do it outside of the curriculum. With the IB diploma it is an important part of it."

Four members of staff were trained to teach the IB in Poland two years ago and a further ten went to Bratislava in Slovakia to be trained last year.

Rhodesway students who do not want to study the IB will receive help in finding A-level places at other schools within the Bradford West Confederation of secondaries.

The IB qualification was set up in 1968 and is now taught in 121 countries across the world.

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers union's Bradford branch secretary Stuart Herdson said: "The IB creates more choice and diversity and we would welcome it.

"But I think it will not be suitable for every student. For example if someone wanted to go into a career in medicine I would advise them to stick with the three sciences at A-level."

It is accepted by universities across the country including Bradford.