Sponsors
Week 1
Team name: Top Notch!
Tell us what you have been doing this week
This week, we have had a mini meeting where we have generated initial ideas for our project. We have decided to aim towards creating products to sell at our school Christmas Fayre, alongside other events, where we will raise money for the school food bank.
We have been tasked with doing some product research to see what we could make and sell for our enterprise project over the half term holidays.
We have also participated in an EVERFI Financial Education workshop, which has helped us to understand budgeting and costing.
What did you learn this week?
We have learned a lot about finance and how to budget this week. We have also considered our teamwork skills and how to value everyone's voices and opinions.
What did you find difficult this week?
As we had a lot to finish with our learning this week, we have struggled to fit everything in that we wanted to, but we were excited to meet our Business Mentor after half term!
We worked hard on budgeting and completing a series of financial challenges.
Kiera, from EVERFI, came in to school to deliver our financial education workshop.
Week 2 - half term
Week 3
Tell us what you have been doing this week
We met John from Barclay's Eagle Labs who told us a bit about his job and why he was working with us. We started looking at options for the products we could sell at the Christmas Fayre, and learned about some of the technology that could help us, e.g. laser cutters and 3D printers. We thought about bio-degradable products that are kind to the environment. We also started to put together ideas for our team name and our mission statement. Finally, we completed job applications to apply for our role in the team.
What did you learn this week?
- We learned that we need to carefully plan our product to stay in budget and reduce wastage of materials.
- We learned how to make the most of our materials by tessellating designs (we will look more at this in the design phase).
- We learned how to work as a team to share ideas.
What did you find difficult this week?
- Making difficult choices about what products we want to make and staying in budget.
- Deciding whether to make a few bigger items that cost more, or lots of smaller items that cost less.
We worked collaboratively to compile team name ideas.
Our fancy, hand designed logo!
Week 4
Tell us what you have been doing this week
This week, we have got our job roles after our applications were submitted. We have also learned a little more about social enterprise and sustainability using the Bright Stars lesson plans. We looked back at our team name world cloud from last week, and had an elimination process to whittle down our list of ideas to the top two...then we had a secret poll to decide on the winner...Our team is called Top Notch! Our marketing and graphic design team created logo options, which we used elements of to create our final logo - we drew this on a graphic design app.
What did you learn this week?
We learned how to make the most out of our materials to reduce wastage. We also thought about our products being high-quality and long-lasting, so they wouldn't be thrown out after this Christmas.
What did you find difficult this week?
We were all a bit worried about our job roles and what we would have to do...we didn't all get the job we wanted. Mrs. Branney reassured us that we would all have an important part to play!!
Week 5
Tell us what you have been doing this week
This week, we went to EagleLabs in The Bus Station! We saw fancy, high-tech offices and people at work, on calls and meetings. Then John took us to meet Zoe in the Maker Lab. We learned how 3D printing and laser cutting works, and got to see some of our prototypes for real! We calculated cost prices for our products. We got to see the laser cutter and the 3D printer in action. Then we went to the board room for a proper business meeting to plan our next steps...we felt very important in there! We also met Lindsay from NatterJack Marketing who spoke to us about our logo and her own job!
What did you learn this week?
We learned that 3D printing can be quite expensive. We also learned how to work the laser printer. It was great to see what EagleLabs looks like, and the fancy offices. We also met Pip the dog, who Lindsay says is her chief happiness officer, and we can see why!
What did you find difficult this week?
We tried to complete our prototype reindeer with pompoms, but quickly realised that this wouldn't work to make a high-quality item, so we had to rethink and redesign our product.
Looking at how to create our designs to send to the laser cutter...
We loved being in the board room for our team meeting!
Reindeer Decoration Prototype
3D Snowflake Prototype
Week 6
Tell us what you have been doing this week
We have been incredibly busy this week!
- Redesigned prototypes!
- Worked out final base costs for our products.
- Discussed whether we sell individual items or bundles.
- Wrote letters to ask for extra help.
- Produced draft designs for our logos.
- Sent out market research surveys.
- Shared prototypes with staff and parents.
- Reviewed the surveys to begin to make final decisions about pricing.
- Thought about where we will sell our products.
- Thought about our product packaging.
What did you learn this week?
We learned about how to set prices to satisfy the customer but also to make a decent profit.
We also learned that sometimes products have to be redesigned and re-imagined to make them better.
We have learned about ordering products so that we can make them in plenty of time.
What did you find difficult this week?
We have had so much going on this week, it has been difficult to find time to get everything done! We also want to make sure that we have bits sorted so that we have time to make things next week.
Week 7
Tell us what you have been doing this week
We have had a very exciting week! On Monday, we welcomed Alan and Jack from the Sellafield Centre of Excellence to teach us all about how a 3D printer works and how they are used in the nuclear industry to make spare parts and complete jobs. We all got a tiny version of our snowflakes as a keepsake, and completed some STEM activities using electrical rover kits. On Wednesday, John popped in to deliver the first batch of decorations, which we had to polish, add bells and hangers, and also quality check. Some of us were interviewed by a media team from Sellafield for a promotional video.
What did you learn this week?
- Collected survey responses and set individual and bundle prices.
- How to run a production line and work together to achieve a bigger goal.
- What quality control is.
- How 3D printers can support industry, and the skills needed to design and make items on a 3D printer.
What did you find difficult this week?
We found it challenging setting prices so that we could cover costs but also make sure that the customer had good value for money. We also got frustrated while creating our marketing video & leaflets.
Marketing Materials
Our visit from Sellafield and the 3D printer
Making our decorations
Selling our decorations at the Christmas Fayre!
Week 8
Tell us what you have been doing this week
This week, we did a lot more making of products to sell at our Christmas Fayre! We sent out our promotional materials on our social media pages and on Seesaw to advertise our stall. We also made all our prices lists and thought about how to present our stall so that it would attract customers. We asked about doing some pop-up shops at different locations to target different audiences too. On Friday, we held an exclusive pre-sale for staff and then had our stall at the Christmas Fayre...Teddy, Ada, Rory, Willow and Dunamis were amazing salespeople!
What did you learn this week?
- How to present our items so that they would attract customers!
- To publicise via social media and word of mouth.
- How to speak to customers.
- Working out how to add up, give change and package orders while under pressure!
What did you find difficult this week?
- We had a lot to sort out this week - lots of decorations to make in a short space of time!
- At first, we found it hard to speak to adult customers, but we soon got our confidence!
Week 9
Tell us what you have been doing this week
This week, we have been looking at wrapping things up and seeing what we have learned from our Bright Stars journey. We all felt very proud of ourselves for our efforts and for the amount we made for the Food Bank! We have been finalising our documents, ready to share in our final blogs. We also had some ideas for how we would like to continue Top Notch! We would like to explore how to put together recipe boxes for the food bank, as we will be going to buy food from the supermarket. We would also like to organise and run a sponsored Top Notch Tough Mudder type challenge in the summer.
What did you learn this week?
We have learned how to finalise our business plan, marketing plan and finance reports. We have also been reflecting on our learning throughout the program. See our Menti images to learn what we have learned throughout Bright Stars.
What did you find difficult this week?
We have been thinking about the challenges we have overcome over the last couple of months - see our Menti below to see what difficulties we have faced...
For pupils to answer:
In one sentence please tell us what bright stars has meant to you?
We have learned that all ideas can become a reality with hard work, and that everyone has a part to play no matter what their job role is!
For teachers to answer:
Can you tell us the impact this programme has had on your school?
This campaign has enabled our pupils to really delve in to a wide range of social issues, not just deprivation and sustainability. They have been able to see the world of work and experience a wide range of opportunities on their doorstep, helping them to build aspirations and hopes for their own futures. They have heard candid stories about how people have to work hard and overcome adversities in life to gain employment and develop their skills. The children have learned the value of learning from each other and collaborating with each other to reach a common goal. We have worked well with Barclays Eaglelabs and look to continue this partnership as the children further develop their campaign in the summer.
Please provide your business plan.
Please provide your marketing plan.
Please provide your finance report/template.
Charity name/money donated to.
We are donating our profits to our school food bank, to pay for recipe boxes (which we will design and make), to support local families in need.
Final profit (minus the £50 seed funding).
£438.00
A memory of our day in the Maker Lab at The Bus Station.
Selling our decorations at The Bus Station.
