A TEAM of enterprising students have followed the rule of writing about what you know by channelling their examination experience into a book to help other young people.
Team Apollo, from Ripon Grammar School, have not only built a successful business around their product but are also in with a chance of representing the region in a national final.
Their book – The Little Book for Big Grades – is aimed at helping children from Year 7 to Year 11 cope with test pressures by offering ideas on revision techniques, organisational skills, tips for effective revision and how to deal with stress.
There is also a section aimed at parents with advice on how to create the right environment for productive revision and how to support their children.
The lower sixth students won the Harrogate Area heat of Young Enterprise, including the prize for best innovation and entrepreneurship, and then went on to win the North Yorkshire Area competition and the prize for teamwork. They now go forward to the Yorkshire final next month, the winner of which will qualify for the national final in London.
The students drew on their own experiences for the book, which was written by Edward Lyons with help from Matthew Pimley.
Edward said: "We had a range of ideas for the business to start with. The book was one of them but we thought it would take a long time. We decided to send out a survey to parents asking for their opinion and we had 80 responses within two days, so it became clear it was something we should pursue.
“We recommend using a mix of revision techniques, as focusing on just one can restrict your learning. We've had really positive feedback and we feel it’s helping a lot of students.”
Each team member has a role in the business – David Bates and Kaitlin Christensen are in charge of the book’s layout, James Muscroft-Paylor, Lucy Mumford and Oliver Pond run sales and marketing, and Yaz Ebert and Joe Brown are financial officers with responsibility for registering the business and paying the correct amount of tax.
The product has already generated over £1,000 in revenue, with around £340 profit.
The team’s prize for winning the North Yorkshire title was a day working with Sandler Training, of Wetherby, where they will be coached in preparation for the final. They have also received regular support since September from Richard Canham, from VocaLink.
They are also getting help from lower sixth ICT students with developing a website.
Managing director Joshua Finkill said: “We’ve improved our financial reporting and general organisation, our meetings are more efficient and we’ve made the book more user friendly in its design, so we feel ready for the Yorkshire final.”
Teacher Bob Walker, who runs Young Enterprise as an enrichment activity, said: "Last year was our first year in Young Enterprise and we learned a lot. This year, it’s a bit like your second child - you back off and give them more freedom to get on with it.
“The students have really risen to the challenge. They meet at least once a week and have worked very hard, so it’s entirely their enterprise.”
Copies of the book have been sent to eight local schools and Thirsk School and Ripon Grammar School have already bought bulk orders. It is also on sale at Little Ripon Book Shop, and can be ordered by emailing apollobooks@mail.com
