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Dear Parents & Carers
It was a wonderfully busy and joyful weekend in the Channing community, with the Year 6 Leavers’ Party on Friday evening followed by the CA Summer Fair yesterday. I will share more about both events in next week’s Bulletin, but I wanted to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you to all the parents who gave their time, energy and enthusiasm to make these occasions such a success. The sense of community, generosity and support on display was truly special, and I am incredibly grateful for everything you do for the school. I would also like to extend a special thank you to Declan and Suge (caretakers) for all their hard work in helping before, during and after the Summer Fair. It was a fantastic event and a wonderful celebration of our school community.
In assembly today, we heard from our two Year 6 forms and their Junior Entrepreneur Programme (JEP) marketing teams about the exciting and innovative work they have been undertaking this term in their Design and Technology lessons. The girls proudly introduced the products they have designed and created, sharing their plans for launching and selling their products, ‘Clicky Cubes’ and ‘Sock Pupz’ this week. There was a wonderful sense of energy and anticipation in Fairseat Hall and it was clear that the rest of the school is already eagerly looking forward to supporting the girls’ ventures and purchasing their products.
The Junior Entrepreneur Programme, led by our fantastic Art and Design Technology teacher, Mr Fellows, is a highly engaging initiative that introduces children to the world of entrepreneurship through practical, hands-on learning experiences. The programme encourages pupils to develop an entrepreneurial mindset while working collaboratively to establish and run their own businesses. Throughout the process, the girls are given ownership of their ideas and are encouraged to think creatively, work independently and take responsibility for the many decisions involved in developing a successful enterprise.
Over the course of the term, the girls have been immersed in every stage of the entrepreneurial journey. They began by brainstorming and pitching possible business ideas before carrying out market research to identify which products would most appeal to their target audience. From there, they worked collaboratively in teams, recognising individual strengths and assigning roles and responsibilities across areas such as finance, marketing, communications, design, production and sales. The girls then moved on to designing prototypes, sourcing materials, calculating costs, managing budgets and refining their products in preparation for launch.
One of the most valuable aspects of the programme is the way it develops essential life skills alongside creativity and business awareness. The girls quickly discover that entrepreneurship involves far more than simply making and selling a product. They learn how to communicate effectively, negotiate ideas, solve problems collaboratively and adapt when challenges arise. They are encouraged to think critically, evaluate risks, manage their time carefully and respond thoughtfully to customer feedback. Throughout the process, they also gain an understanding of important financial concepts such as budgeting, pricing, profit and investment in a meaningful and accessible way.
At Channing, we believe it is important that our pupils leave us not only with strong academic foundations but also with the wider skills, attitudes and personal qualities needed to flourish in an ever-changing world. Opportunities such as the Junior Entrepreneur Programme allow the girls to apply their learning in authentic and purposeful contexts while developing confidence, leadership, adaptability and resilience. Whether or not the girls pursue entrepreneurial careers in the future, the ability to think creatively, solve problems, collaborate effectively and communicate ideas with confidence will serve them exceptionally well throughout their education and beyond.
The programme also aligns closely with many of the Channing Character values we seek to nurture across the school. Throughout this project, the girls have demonstrated resilience when overcoming challenges, curiosity when exploring new ideas, responsibility in managing budgets and deadlines, independence when making decisions and empathy when considering the needs and interests of others. It has been wonderful to see the girls recognising how these character qualities extend far beyond the classroom and can be applied in real-world situations.
I would like to thank Mr Fellows for the tremendous enthusiasm and encouragement he brings to the programme. His passion for creativity, design and innovation has inspired the girls throughout the process and helped create such a positive, dynamic and engaging learning experience. I would also like to congratulate Year 6 on the maturity, imagination and commitment they have shown throughout the project. They should be extremely proud of everything they have achieved already.
We very much look forward to supporting the girls’ businesses this week and celebrating their creativity, hard work and entrepreneurial spirit with the wider school community.
With warm wishes
Miss Dina Hamalis
Head of the Junior School
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