GALLERY: Enterprising pupils enter the Dragon’s Den

Pupils at New Park Primary School entered the Dragon’s Den this week for its award-winning Enterprise and Aspirations Week.

The week-long initiative, which won the Spirit of Enterprise accolade at last year’s Educate Awards, is designed to inspire children to begin to think about what job they would like to have when they are older.

Every class from Nursery to Year 6 had to create a product and pitch it to New Park’s very own panel of Dragons – headteacher Mrs Hutchings; deputy head Mrs Poulson; finance manager Mrs Barlow and pastoral care manager Mr Povey.

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Alongside the Dragon’s Den competition, the school also welcomed an array of visitors including a fireman, bus driver, doctor, nurse, makeup artist and representatives from Liverpool Football Club to talk about their jobs and career paths. On Friday, the school even welcomed a Sea Lion trainer!

The week ended on a high, with a big market sale of all the pupils’ products, with each class competing to see who could make the highest profit. Over £1,000 was raised during the market sale, which will be donated to charity and different school initiatives.

And the winners are…

After much deliberation and back and forth from the Dragons, the winners were announced on the tannoy to much anticipation.

Class 6W won the Dragon’s Den trophy, thanks to raising over £130. The class created ‘Enchanted Unicorn Dust’ with the power to make your dreams come true. Asked on why they won, one pupil said because “we dared to dream”.

The winning team will now receive an investment of up to £50 to buy any materials to make their product, and get to keep their profit and spend it however they choose.

Class 5C came in a close second and have been awarded the chance to work with Virgin Money.

Headteacher Karen Hutchings, says: “We do this to give the children something to think about, to develop the children’s entrepreneurial skills, to try and make sure they’re planning head and thinking about saving money and spending money. Hopefully, they will use these skills later on in life.

“As dragons, we are looking for business plans, designs, prototypes, profit margins and market research. And if the dragons aren’t happy, we will send them away to get the correct information. We do not make it easy for the children.”