PUPILS at an Enfield secondary school broke a fundraising record last year when they donated £12,000 to an international development charity.

St Ignatius College, in Turkey Street, has been named 2007's top fund-raising school for the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), after being inspired by the organisation's work in Brazil.

Students at St Ignatius threw themselves into fund-raising, organising a variety of activities, including a non-uniform day, a beat the teacher at penalty kicks tournament, a sponsored silence and a raffle for a signed football shirt.

Paul Adams, recently retir-ed headteacher at St Ignatius, said: "I can think of no better way to finish my time at St Ignatius than by handing over this cheque to help CAFOD's wonderful work."

Mr Adams retired from St Ignatius before Christmas after 20 years at the school.

Tony Sheen, a former St Ignatius pupil and CAFOD diocesan manager for Westminster, said: "I have been amazed by the enthusiasm the pupils of St Ignatius College have shown for supporting CAFOD.

"Their £12,000 will be a great help in our work fighting poverty overseas. For instance, it is enough to provide 16 poor communities in Peru with clean water."

After hearing about CAFOD's partners working in education, healthcare and supporting human rights in Brazil, St Ignatius pupils began fund-raising, spurred on by some healthy competition, as form groups tried to outdo each other.

The winning form was 7S, with the 30 pupils aged 11 and 12 in the class raising over £700 during the autumn term.

CAFOD works in 50 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. It supports people in finding their own solutions to poverty and works with people regardless of race, gender or religion.