Industrious girls at The Queen’s School in Chester have built up mini businesses with only a £5 initial investment.
The Year 5 pupils were set The Fiver Challenge, supported by Virgin Money, as an interactive, fun way of introducing financial literacy, resilience and teamwork in learning for primary school pupils.
Pupils had one month to set up a mini business and create a product or service they could then sell or deliver at a profit, whilst engaging with their local community and all money raised is being donated to charities chosen by the girls.
The girls divided into teams and chose individual causes to support. They embraced the challenge by using all of their entrepreneurial skills to come up with some creative business ideas.
Dynamic duo Emily Duffy and Mia Clarke struck a deal with the Ice Cream Farm in Tattenhall to sell a tropical sorbet at the popular visitor attraction.
Their business meeting was a result of a great letter written by Mia to the farm seeking an appointment to pitch their idea.
Other successes included the team ‘Crystal Clear’ which made safety pin necklaces and decided to export them and sell them overseas in Singapore.
They proved extremely popular and all necklaces sold out very quickly.
Head of Lower School Rachel Cookson said: “The idea of the initiative is for pupils to develop employability skills including confidence, team work, resilience, financial literacy, organisation, communication, problem solving and independence.
“The Year 5 girls have grown in many, if not all, of these areas and we hope that this has been both an enjoyable, challenging and memorable experience which will support the girls in years to come.”
The Year 5 Fiver Challenge businesses were:
The Emojis with £53 profit going to Cancer Research
FS Mix with £235 profit going to Claire House Hospice
Summer Madness with £108.89 profit going to the RSPCA
Crystal Clear with £192.51 profit going to Cancer Research
CELT with £150.26 profit going to Macmillan Cancer Support
Pupscuits with £186.76 profit going to Dog Trust
Amazing Accessories with £136.07 profit going to The Queen’s School
Bubble ‘n’ Bombs with £98.34 profit going to Children in Need
Icicles £102.20 profit going to Rainforest Rescue
Mrs Cookson added: “We are so proud of these achievements and look forward to presenting the girls’ proceeds to the charities they have selected in September.”
