Exeter Junior School is top class!

Budding entrepreneurs at an Exeter Junior School have proven to be top of their class when it comes to turning ideas into cash thanks to Virgin Money.

The pupils at Exeter Junior School took part in the Virgin Money Make £5 Grow Scheme and were tasked with setting up their own mini business from an initial loan of £5.

The aim was to make as much profit as possible. They marketed and sold their products at school events and some teams organised their own sales outside school.

Short listed teams then faced the Dragons' Den made up of staff across the Junior and Senior School, including Alison Turner, Headmistress of the Junior School and Mark O'Higgins from Virgin Money.

And Exeter Junior School pupils and teachers were thrilled to discover that they had made more profit than any other school taking part in the event!

The Exeter School pupils made an excellent £1,459.55 profit meaning an overall increase of 343% on the original investment of £5.

Jacquie Barnes, Maths Coordinator, said: "Exeter Junior School pupils showed enterprise and initiative in making profit and have put charity at the front of their minds with 72% of total profits donated to Help For Heroes, Cancer Research, WaterAid, Anaphylaxis Campaign, Macmillan Cancer Support, Donkey Sanctuary, Frenchay Hospital, FORCE, Children in Need and Save the Children.

"I would like to congratulate all participants but in particular our overall internal winners, Awesome Upcycling, for their innovative idea of recycling objects.

"The team of three, Ollie Bennett, Ben Jones and Charlie Kerr, found items in their families' garages which could be used again in a creative fashion."

Mark O'Higgins from Virgin Money was overwhelmed with the hard work and input that had been put in by everyone for the Make £5 Grow Scheme. He said: "I was very impressed and pleased to see how much the teams enjoyed themselves."

Virgin Money operated the Make £5 Grow programme in over 100 schools with 4831 pupils taking part in the project across the UK. The aim is to give school children aged 9-11 the experience of starting a mini business with the support of a Virgin Money ambassador.