were  taking 'soft' options to secure  for their school respectable league table positions-gave Ministers little option but to impose greater transparency. Ministers say that Academies are improving at a quicker rate than other non-selective  schools in the maintained sector , and those that are part of  a chain are improving fastest. Don't Goves ABacc proposals look a bit like the Welsh Baccaluareate? The Government is planning to introduce the "Advanced Baccalaureate" -- a new college leaving certificate. Under  the  plans, teenagers will be awarded the  ABacc for successfully completing a 5,000 word dissertation-style essay and undertaking voluntary work -- in addition to their three specialist A-level subjects. The Government said the plans -- currently at a draft stage -- were intended to make sure teenagers were better prepared for the demands of university, particularly elite institutions belonging to the Russell Group. The Welsh Baccalaureate is a qualification for 14 to 19 year old student sin Wales. It combines personal development skills with existing qualifications like A levels, NVQs and GCSEs to make one wider award that is valued by employers and universities. The Welsh Baccalaureate aims to give broader experiences than traditional learning programmes. The core of the Welsh Baccalaureate counts for 120 UCAS tariff points, equivalent to an A Grade at GCE A level. The Welsh Baccalaureate aims to achieve a broader, more balanced curriculum for 14-19 year olds, helping students to develop knowledge and skills that higher education institutions and employers want them to have when they leave