Nothing is too much for staff at one of Bolton's top performing high schools.

And their dedication has been recognised with an 'Oscar' of the teaching world.

For Sharples School was named the gold winner of the Award for Making a Difference - Secondary School of the Year at 2023 Pearson National Teaching Awards.

The school was nominated and selected as the gold award winner amongst thousands of nominees based on their inspirational teaching, contributions to their pupils and impact throughout their community, as assessed by judges.

Over the last eight years, Sharples has implemented a multitude of programmes to support its 1,200 students, from week-long free summer schools to live online revision sessions and Sunday evening exam preparation sessions.

The Bolton News has even reported how revision sessions have been held in restaurants.

The school has even taken students abroad for free, some of whom had never travelled before. Sharples's dedication to its students and their futures has, say judges, enabled pupils to believe in a brighter future for themselves, regardless of their background.

The Bolton News: Sharples School Award winners

The Pearson National Teaching Awards is an annual celebration that honours the outstanding achievements of educators across the UK.

Ann Webster said: "Our staff and students are incredibly proud to have received the gold award for Secondary School of the Year which recognises the many successes of our vibrant learning community. At Sharples we live by our motto 'Learn. Dream. Achieve.' and every day we go above and beyond to make a positive difference to the lives of all of the students in our care."

The Bolton News: Caroline Molyneux and her pupils get down to revision at McDonald's

Michael Morpurgo, author, former Children’s Laureate, and President of the Teaching Awards Trust, said: “We all know that a great teacher can enrich your life, can help you rise to the challenge, believe in yourself, find your own voice. I know that because it happened more than once to me. That’s why these Teaching Awards are so important, and important to me. Every year, without fail, we see nominations which move and inspire us and this year we have seen stellar examples of life-changing role models for young people. I want to once again congratulate the winners of the 2023 Pearson National Teaching Awards and thank them for the incredible impact they have on our communities.”

Sharon Hague, Managing Director of Schools at Pearson UK, said: “It’s an honour to celebrate and express gratitude to our teachers and the incredible impact they have on our communities. The hard work that goes into teaching and showing up for students day in and day out cannot be underestimated. Congratulations to all winners and thank you for your continuous efforts.”

Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan said: “The impact of a teacher on a child's life can be immeasurable - I know it was for me. I am so grateful to all the staff in our schools and colleges for everything they do. This year marks 25 years of the Teaching Awards Trust, which is a huge landmark. Teachers change lives and we should all feel a sense of gratitude to those we are celebrating today. Thank you again and congratulations.”

Rachel Johnson, CEO at PiXL, Sponsor of The Award for Making a Difference - Secondary School, said:"Sharples School, we’re so delighted to celebrate you and your team’s incredible leadership in providing high-quality education, experiences and support to those in your care. Each day, you make a difference in improving life chances and outcomes for your pupils, in turn impacting the wider community so positively. Many congratulations.”