Enterprising young people at Chipping Norton School have been given a special £500 award by Oxfordshire County Council.

The cash prize was awarded to a team of 12 sixth-formers who took part in the Young Enterprise scheme during the year -- scoring exceptional marks in a voluntary exam.

A separate £50 prize for the most innovative idea went to Chipping Norton pupil Simon Crudge for his foldable kayak.

All of the 12 pupils who formed the company, called Chameleon, passed the optional exam and 10 of them gained a distinction.

Head of sixth-form, Terry Cook, said the exam results were unprecedented in his 13 years experience with the Young Enterprise scheme at the school.

He said: "Very occasionally, if we are lucky, we get one or two distinctions. This year, they all passed and 10 got a distinction. It's our best result ever."

Chameleon sold themed gifts and merchandise in and outside of school throughout the year. Themes included Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day and Easter.

The county council award was given to the school for making the best use of the scheme in 2003.

It was presented at the Oxford Trust's Innovation Awards Exhibition as part of Venturefest Oxford.