Stratford Primary builds business skills

Dilan Robertson and Jordan Bolger were selling slime on the night.

From cookies to ginger beer, scooter stands to milk shakes, clocks to jewellery, there was a wide range of products on sale at the Stratford Primary School Build a Business night.

All Year 7 and 8 students at the school participate in the annual event, which encourages them to think of, market and sell a product, from the initial design to final production.

Tracy White, Year 7/8 teacher and team leader, says the activity used to be held every second year. "But moving it to every year means students gain much more from the experience. The Year 8s know what worked or failed for them last year so can work to do better the second time around."

Christian Kennet, Julian Slade and Ethan Crawford teamed up to make aeroplanes out of drink cans.

While students choose their own groups and products to make, they all have to produce a good business plan, which they present to a member of the senior teaching team. "I've sent a few back," says principal David Cripps, who adds students can apply for a loan to start their business off, "but they won't get it if they haven't done the research first."

Brittany Leeman says she and her business partner, Georgia Rowland, didn't need to take out a loan to start their business.

The unit culminates with an evening market, where Stratford shoppers can come and see the products for themselves and place orders. As people start filling the hall, sales pitches get louder as students compete with each other to make the most money on the night. "Any profit they make goes to the school's Big Day Out later on in the year," says Tracy, adding that she is always impressed by the imagination, creativity and determination shown by all the students involved.