Pupils at a Seven Kings school are learning the basics of business and marketing while providing healthy snacks for their classmates at the same time.

Farnham Green Primary School in Royal Close, Seven Kings, is one of five Redbridge schools currently working with national social enterprise company Fruit To Suit to teach children how to run their own tuck shops.

All the school’s year 5 pupils took part in a “challenge morning” with the company’s trainers two weeks ago, at which they competed to show they had the sharpest business minds.

Around 60 pupils put together business plans, made TV adverts and marketed their businesses before 25 were chosen to run a tuck shop for the rest of the school year.

Deputy headteacher Melanie Dye said the scheme links into the school’s enterprise curriculum teaching life skills.

She said: “It’s a bit like The Apprentice. “The children have to decide what to purchase, they do cost-pricing, they have to do market research on what the other children would like.

“And it provides the school with healthy snacks at lunch-time.”

The tuck-shop group, who sell plain popcorn, apple crisps, raisins and other treats to their friends, were all given job titles including director, sales manager and stock control manager.

They are learning how to advertise their efforts with posters and keep tabs on stock through Excel spreadsheets and all profits go back to the school.

Trainer Tracy Livings said:

“The scheme is a really excellent way to empower them and give them the opportunity to experience business.”

It is the second year Farnham Green has participated in Fruit To Suit with, Christchurch, Coppice, Mayespark and Parkhill primary schools all running similar projects.

For further details, visit www.fruittosuit.co.uk.