MOUNT St Joseph School is celebrating today after being awarded specialist school status for business and enterprise.

The Farnworth school's new status means extra funding will be channelled into improving business and enterprise resources and courses for pupils, partner schools and the wider community.

Keith Harris, chair of governors, said: "One of the things we are really interested in is bringing real life learning into school and giving pupils the chance to experience real work situations."

The school was interested in adding new subjects to the curriculum such as leisure and tourism, he said.

The Greenland Road secondary already has a long history of working in partnership with business for the benefit of young people. Work experience placements, mentoring, curriculum projects, summer schools, master classes, careers advice and practice interviews are regular features of school life.

Plans are also under way to create a £2 million technological innovation centre for all of Bolton at the school. Mr Harris said: "The whole thing put together will create lots of new opportunities for south Bolton."

Headteacher Penny Walker said: "Not only will this provision enhance the quality of teaching and learning in school, but it will enable us to share expertise and resources with the whole community -- the family of schools, as well as parents and the wider community."

"We want them to get hands-on experience and not just learn the theory.