Staff at Swanlea, a specialist business and enterprise school in the London borough of Tower Hamlets, were not convinced initially by enterprise learning, until they saw the results.
Pupil motivation has soared and even the most disaffected learners are now involved in school life.
The school plans to create a DJ programme for its Year 10 pupils and hopes to set up its own radio station before the end of the year.
Now it has been praised by David Bell, the chief inspector, for the activities it runs to help prepare pupils for the world of work.
Simon Firth, assistant head, said: “It was hard to encourage all staff, but they soon saw a rise in achievement.
“I think schools may be getting it wrong because they do not explain that something like entrepreneurial skills, such as creativity and problem-solving, can be used in all subjects, including maths and English.
“But these are skills that are useful later on in life.”
