Enterprising pupils are hoping their creative efforts will bring the money rolling in when their school business Colby Crafts sets out its stall on Friday, July 18.

Enterprising pupils are hoping their creative efforts will bring the money rolling in when their school business Colby Crafts sets out its stall on Friday, July 18.

Older children have been running a mini business at Colby Primary in preparation for the day when they move on to Aylsham High School, which has specialist business and enterprise status.

The team of about 20 decided to paint flower pots, make cards, decorate canvas bags and grow plants using £100 start-up cash granted by their school council and the high school.

They have held regular meetings to plan and budget, even paying for photocopying, shopping for bargain packs of paper and other supplies, and pricing goods carefully.

Fellow pupils and parents will be able to buy their creations after school and the workforce aims to make a profit.

Chief accountant Emily Scott, nine, said the most enjoyable part had been creating the crafts while making a business plan and typing it out had been the least interesting.

The Colby project is one of several mini businesses run at schools in the Aylsham High cluster, with high school pupils acting as mentors to the younger children.

The high school's extensive work on explaining the world of finance to children has just been recognised by education chiefs who have included a video about Aylsham's work on the National Curriculum website.

In the film deputy head Julie Ward talks about the role play and games used by the school, which also works closely with local businesses and financial experts.

She says: “You can't teach anything about financial capability or anything about personal finance unless you make it real for the learners, and then they get totally motivated by it.”