Fun of the Fair

While the Enterprise Fair has traditionally been the domain of our 13s (Year 9) as part of their Business curriculum, this year saw a spontaneous new addition: a group of enterprising 10s (Year 6) pupils who, eager to sell their handmade wares, organised a business fair of their own.

The fairs took place over two afternoons, with both year groups trying their hand at running a mini business. A lively buzz filled the Prep courtyard as pupils sold a range of items from their stalls to passing parents, staff, and pupils at going-home time.

The 10s’ fair came first and was a new initiative sparked by a group of pupils who had been making crochet keyrings, hair scrunchies and soft toys. They asked if they could sell their creations at school, and their Head of Year, Joe O'Shea, was keen to support them. The idea quickly gathered momentum—soon nearly 90% of the year group was involved, creating business plans, tracking expenses, and donating profits to charities of their choice.

"I was so impressed by how organised they were – their stalls were all set up and ready before I even realised," said Mr O’Shea.

A few days later, the 13s (Year 9) pupils who study Business took part in their annual Apprentice-style fair, competing in teams to raise the highest profits, which will also be donated to charity. They threw themselves into their sales pitches, aiming to capture the attention of their mostly teenaged audience with popular offerings like snow cones, cake pops, crêpes, toffee apples, lucky dip, jewellery, and mini games such as basketball shootouts or putting challenges.

One of the most popular stalls was the Dunk It stall, where pupils had the chance to throw wet sponges at one another—or at any willing staff or parent volunteers.

Head of 13s and Business teacher Mr Cooper was impressed: “The effort and enterprise the pupils put into their stalls was brilliant—loads of colour, great promotion, music… all the fun of the fair, in fact.”