IN her last year of full-time teaching, Sally Haworth was stunned when Smithills School won the Schools Enterprise category in the Bolton and Bury Business Awards.

Mrs Haworth, who will retire from her post as work-related learning and enterprise manager later this year, said: “It’s a wonderful leaving present and this is the second time in three years Smithills has won this award.

“It’s an award for all the hard work and dedication of all the students and staff as everybody has contributed the school’s success.”

Enterprise should be Smithills School’s middle name as it is an integral part of life at the comprehensive and all pupils take part in a wide range of activities.

Students from the school go out and organise projects and competitions in local primary schools and help start projects both with the young and elderly.

A number of students took part in the national Mosaic Enterprise Challenge and one group were runners-up winning £2,000.

Printzone is a successful student-run printing business set up with a £10,000 loan to buy the printer and software and produces work for local businesses, individuals and the school.

Mrs Haworth said: “Printzone was set up by students to be run by students and they are producing fantastic quality work at reasonable prices and it is making money.”

“Throughout the school, both students and staff are constantly using enterprise in its many and varying forms.

“In addition, the students are constantly coming up with new and imaginative ideas to benefit not only school, but also the local community.

“Smithills is an enterprising school in every sense, and we are proud of what we have achieved.”

This year’s award was sponsored by Balfour Beatty Eduation.