Backed by successful local employers Howard Tenens, Sainsbury’s, Homebase and the Apollo Cinema, pupils at Uplands Primary School have just taken part in an innovative Enterprise Week. The scheme, devised by the head teacher and staff, drew on the expertise of the companies to introduce every child at the school to the world of work. As part of the programme, each child was given £1 to try and turn into a profit in any way they chose.
Reception year children were helped by Sally Dyer from Sainsbury’s to prepare a variety of ready-to-eat foods, and had a plant sale.
Children from Years 1 and 2 had already been working with a professional animator to produce their own cartoons. Subsequently, they visited the Apollo Cinema to find out about the different jobs done there, and to ask staff about the various things they sell to make money. Based on what they learnt on that visit, they then planned a showing of their cartoons to parents and friends back in their classroom – including making their own film posters and producing programmes on the school’s laptops.
The Year 3 & 4 children walked to Homebase and bought the tools and materials needed to make picture frames. A large variety of styles and sizes were produced, and these too were taken to The Shambles market where they were sold to the public.
On the Wednesday of Enterprise Week, children from years 5 & 6 also took on the momentous task of running the whole school themselves. While Molly Edwards and Shane Barrow became head teacher for a few hours, the roles taken on by other pupils included teacher, assistant teacher, and even school secretary. As part of their duties, the Headteachers paid a visit to the lovely Park Infant School in Stonehouse to see a wonderful Spring Assembly in honour of Uplands parent and Park Infant Teacher, Susannah Beech, who sadly died last month.
Peter Morris, CEO of Howard Tenens, the major logistics company headquartered in Stroud – renowned for its commitment to safeguarding our environment – gave students from years 5 and 6 a detailed insight into profit and loss, and talking about how he started the company nearly 30 years ago. His best advice for success was, ‘To work very hard and enjoy what you do.’
Throughout the week, all children up to and including year 4, were also introduced to the arts of teaching adults how to dance, (and how to massage). Their instructor, advanced skills teacher, Sarah Shaw, subsequently helped them sell their new-found talents to parents and other adults at the school on the Friday afternoon. This raised a further
The largest profit from the £1 given to each child during Enterprise Week was made by Molly Edwards, who made over £215 profit by washing cars and making cakes, and Lily Williams, Mati Williams & Millie Brunsdon who made £123 profit by selling seeds and plants. Although totals had not yet been finalised, the running total by Friday was over £1000, and estimates are expected to be well in excess of this.
The money raised from all the week’s activities will go towards school funds and making six benches to be placed around Stroud, in memory of Susannah Beech, a much loved parent at Uplands who died recently, carefully placed on the views and routes of her favourite Stroud walks.
Headteacher Richard Lucas commented: “We believe it’s never too soon to give children an insight into how the world of work operates – and to show them how they can have a lot of fun taking part in it.”