GEORGE Tomlinson School's headteacher, Mr Tony Buckley outlined details of the school's exciting £650,000 refurbishment programme at the Kearsley school's Achievement Awards Evening.

The project will be finished in time for the start of the new academic year in September 1997 providing new Art, Technology, Science, IT, Special Needs and Modern Language rooms.

He said: "The school will be equipped to take us well into the next century."

More than 250 parents and guests applauded 100 pupils as they received their awards from the school's former careers adviser, Bridie Holmes.

The school will celebrate its best ever GCSE results in November, when former pupils will return to collect exam certificates at the traditional presentation evening. Bridie Holmes and Tony Buckley are pictured with award winners Kelly Reay and Gemma Tite.

Smithills School, Bolton has won an Education and Industry Partnership Award to support its innovative futures course.

Students in Year Seven at the school are enjoying the challenge of making a video, giving a presentation, desk top publishing and designing a housing estate whilst exploring how the way in which we live now has consequences for our future world.

The Futures course encourages teamwork, creativity and responsibility and encourages students to think for themselves.

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