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A teenage boy, Bobby McHale, has been awarded a certificate from a holiday scheme in Bury, Greater Manchester - for getting the bus.
The 15 year-old got the certificate from exam board AQA after attending a three week holiday scheme run by Bury Youth Services earlier in the summer.
Some of Bobby's friends also received the qualification although others, including Bobby's younger brother Joe, 13, missed out it.
The teenager, from Bury, Greater Manchester, wasn't even aware he had sat the test and admitted he was surprised to be awarded the certificate.
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.
*Sit on the bus and observe through the windows.
"It just seems really silly to me," said Bobby, who is set for A grades at GCSE.
"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."
He added: "I haven't bothered framing it."
His father, Andy, 44, who runs his own marketing company, said the family were bemused by the episode.
"Bobby's face was a picture when he saw the certificate," he said.
"To be honest we are all a little bemused.
"I can only suppose this comes from some box they have to tick in order to get funding."
He added: "As part of it Bobby certainly travelled by bus. Maybe it's boosted his confidence because he was nominated as head boy."
"He was particularly surprised because he doesn't look out the window.
"He listens to his music instead."
A Bury Council spokesman said: "For several years, young people in Bury have taken part in a summer activities scheme called BRAG (Bury and Rochdale Active Generation). This is a two-week programme of sports, dance, and arts events, run through Bury Youth Service, with events taking place at several venues across Bury and Heywood.
"Participants receive a BRAG pass, details of the activities taking place, and a free bus pass. This is designed to encourage young people to be self-reliant - they have to plan their own schedule and ensure they get to the different activities on time.
"Youngsters receive a sticker after completing each different activity: if they collect eight, they can take part in a Golden Week of bonus events, such as trips to Blackpool or activity centres.
"The AQA certificate does not go into all the details of the package, but mentions purely the public transport element. It's not just about sitting on a bus, it's about reading timetables properly and planning the best route, which is behind the whole idea of encouraging self-reliance.
"The certificate gives young people credit for their achievements as part of the whole BRAG programme. It supports their school portfolio, and many go on to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
"The annual cost of running the BRAG programme of events is £20,000, paid for through a Government grant."
* 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:
1. Walk to the local bus stop.
2. Stand or sit at the bus stop and wait for the arrival of a public bus.
3. Enter the bus in a calm and safe manner.
4. Be directed to a downstairs seat by a member of staff
5. Sit on the bus and observe through the windows.
6. Wait until the bus has stopped, stand on request and exit the bus.
Was this posted already? It's a BeBro-esque thread topic.
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