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Successful students were given the VIP treatment at an awards evening held at Manchester Town Hall on where they were presented with certificates by the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor John Smith.

Parents and teachers also attended along with staff from further education colleges and members of Manchester's business community seeking promising future candidates for study and careers.

Moston schools represented at the awards ceremony included the former Moston Brook High School, North Manchester Community School for Girls, North Manchester High School for Boys and St Matthew's RC School.

Crumpsall's Abraham Moss High School and Blackley's Our Lady's RC and Plant Hill High Schools were also honoured along with the Lancasterian School for pupils with special needs.

Now in its fifth year, the Manchester EBP Award is targeted at 14 and 15 year olds and recognises skills and qualities demonstrated by young people in areas other than the school curriculum.

Pupils are helped to apply these skills and qualities to the world of work and must show they have improved their attendance record and punctuality, achieved a personal goal and demonstrated initiative.

This involved undertaking unpaid community work, a fundraising challenge and successfully completing a period of work experience to improve their chances of finding employment or continuing their studies on leaving school.

Councillor Kath Robinson said: "It is very satisfying to see so many pupils who have worked extremely hard to achieve the high standards required for this award."