Year 9 students turned entrepreneurs for the day by participating in a Dragon’s Den style event featuring local business leaders.
Students worked in small teams within their tutor groups and researched, planned and created an idea for a new product or service. Each team then pitched their idea to a potential investor – or Dragon.
The Dragons selected a team from each tutor group to go through to a final. The teams then presented in front of all Year 9 students and Dragons, who represented local businesses including Blue Bay Alliance, Open GI, Neil Herman Associates, Aspenify, Platform HG, Hotel Shop UK, Savient Limited, Regional Engagement Careers Network, Processio Solutions, Travel Counsellors and Services 4 Schools.
The Dragons chose joint winners. ‘Time2Sign’, a free app created by Eleanor Ashmore and Isla Mayall that will support children as young as four years old to learn sign language, and ‘Children’s Jungle Set’, developed by Farrah Newman, Lilly Prince, Albert Davies and Joseph Bedford, which is a design for a recycled plastic toy used to introduce toddlers to endangered environments and animal noises.
‘HydroFresh,’ a filtering water bottle that could be used in Third World countries came third and was designed by Anshul Singh, Joseph Bailey, Alexander Korbas and Alex Clisset.
Mrs Clare Morris, Assistant Headteacher responsible for careers, information and guidance, commented:
“The students and ideas they developed were amazing. They showed great confidence and resilience when pitching their products and services to their peers and the 13 Dragons, and it was lovely to watch. The enthusiasm the students showed for their products is to be commended. Well done to everyone who took part and congratulations to the teams who created Time2Sign, Children’s Jungle Set and HydroFresh.”
