DARWEN’S new academy is trying to turn its girl pupils into entrepreneurs.

The Darwen Aldridge Community Academy is the only one in the country to have a specialism in entre-preneurialism.

Now the school, which replaced Darwen Moorland, is this week taking that step with a series of events designed to get girls into business.

Last night, a ‘Pink Passion Party’ was staged at the school.

More than 300 guests were invited to the event, which included presentations from local female entrepreneurs and a ‘hot to trot’ fashion show.

The event was sponsored by Women in Business and No Limits, a Government new-business start-up initiative that is pumping £30million into East Lancashire.

Bosses at the academy said their aim was to encourage its female pupils to ‘realise their potential’ by developing an ‘entrepren-eurial approach to life’.

Jade Parkinson-Hill, vice- principal of entrepren-eurship at the academy, said: “We believe that now is the ideal time to turn our attention to positive news to engage our female pupils and equip them with the life and social skills they will need to reach their full potential in a changing world.

“Interestingly, female ent-repreneurship is highest amongst homemakers and students.

“And via our Pink Passion Party we hope to demon-strate to not just our students but to all Darwen women, what is achievable if they put their mind to it.

“Entrepreneurship is no longer about the stereotype of the grey-haired, middle-aged man.”

All students at the academy have one lesson dedicated to entrepreneurship each week.