Vauvert pupils impress in the Dragons’ Den
DRAGONS’ DEN returned for its eighth season at Vauvert Primary School as Year 6 pupils were given the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of entrepreneurship.
The initiative, organised by KPMG, saw students group together to form a business and pitch their creations to a panel of local business people.
‘It’s an opportunity for them to express themselves,’ said KPMG partner Linda Johnson.
Preparation for the big day started two months ago when pupils decided upon a theme of eco-friendliness and started to draw up plans for products.
To help give the students a better understanding of the business world, lessons on advertising, media training and how to run the numbers were put on, with accountants from KPMG coming in to give a lesson on profit and loss.
‘We’ve learnt marketing, accounting and business skills,’ said student Joe Davies.
During this time the pupils used tools such as Excel to work out the cost of materials and decide what to price their inventions at to accumulate profit.
All of this learning links to the new Guernsey Big Picture Curriculum’s aim to have children learning about the world of work and the implementation of financial literary in primary schools.
‘It brings all parts of the curriculum together,’ said Mrs Johnson.
After the extensive research and development period the pupils entered the den to vie for the investment of judges from KPMG, Carey Olsen, Le Petit Train, Barclays, Oak, Ogier, RBSI, Orchard PR and Happy Print Co.
In the presentations the pupils used PowerPoint and gave speeches to the panel, who in return asked questions and gave tips to the young entrepreneurs on what steps could be taken next to achieve growth.
‘My favourite part was the interview,’ said student Shay Murphy.
Money raised from investments and sales goes towards the annual Year 6 off-island residential to help subsidise the cost for everyone, and also pays for some children who would otherwise be unable to attend.
