NEW Scottish baccalaureate qualifications in expressive arts and social science are to be made available in schools from August.

Developed by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), the new exams are aimed at high-achieving sixth-year pupils.

They consist of a group of related Highers and Advanced Highers, as well as an interdisciplinary project chosen by the student and marked to Advanced Higher level.

Their introduction follows Scottish baccalaureate qualifications in science and languages, which were introduced in August 2009 and have been studied by more than 300 students.

Although initial uptake of the baccalaureates was disappointing, with many schools not offering them at all, they are seen as academically strong.

Michael Russell, the Education Secretary, said: "The baccalaureates are designed to work across subject boundaries, develop deeper learning and critical thinking skills and encourage collaborations across sectors."

However, Liz Smith, education spokeswoman for the Scottish Conservative Party, said: "The key test will be the extent to which colleges and universities value the intellectual rigour of these qualifications and it will be on this basis which teachers, parents and pupils judge their merits for the future."

Ann Ballinger, of the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association, said: "They remain a middle class aspiration, with pupils from the leafy suburbs the most likely beneficiaries."