FIVE girls from an Ipswich high school have won a young enterprise award –but GCSE exams on the same day will stop them competing in the final.

pic emailed to DK>

FIVE girls from an Ipswich high school have won a young enterprise award –but GCSE exams on the same day will stop them competing in the final.

The team from St Alban's Catholic High School have won the Suffolk Young Enterprise Best team Award at the recent county finals held at Northgate Arts Centre in Ipswich.

Kirsty McKenna, Isabelle Sikora, Rachel Lythcott, Rebecca Laws and Kiara Vincent are students in Year 10, who set up their company last September.

The company designs and makes jewellery from glass and crystal, as well as from semi-precious materials like haematite and quartz.

Sales have been popular amongst the students at the school, and also with the staff and parents.

Trade fairs in Ipswich and in Poole, Dorset helped the team broaden its experience of running a successful company, as well as competing with international Young Enterprise teams from Europe and Russia.

The students were judged on a detailed business report and a trade stand. The final part of the assessment was a 10 minute presentation to an audience of judges and guests, where the girls highlighted their achievements throughout the year.

Link teacher at the school Caroline Butcher said: "They were the youngest team on the night, but were able to show just what can be achieved with commitment and dedication.

"We are all delighted with their success, they have worked hard to compete against the best teams in the county."

Managing director of the company, Kirsty McKenna also collected the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce Silver cup for Exports, on behalf of the team.