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Pupils show they have a head for business
ANOTHER WIN ... Oakleigh Gardens headteacher Derek Cogle with pupils.
A SOUTH Tyneside school has once again proved its students are tops in business.
Oakleigh Gardens in Cleadon has scooped a top enterprise award for the fifth time in seven years.
A group of pupils, aged from 15 to 19, who have learning difficulties, picked up a Team Programme award after selling their craftwork at a business fair at Gateshead’s MetroCentre.
The award is from the national education charity Young Enterprise, which helps schools with business-related projects.
Derek Cogle, the headteacher at Oakleigh Gardens School, said the pupils made and decorated items including candles, notebooks, tea towels, wooden spoons and flower arrangements.
He added: “This is the fifth time we have won this award in seven years, so once again the pupils have done tremendously well.
“We were up against schools and colleges from across the North East, so, of course, we are very proud.
“The items are very creative, and are both useful and ornamental. People were interested in them, and that speaks volumes.”
Business enterprise is part of the post-16 curriculum at Oakleigh Gardens, and Mr Cogle said the business fair was good experience for the youngsters.
He explained: “It is definitely good experience, and it’s a challenge for them.
“Judges go around and decide who is going to win awards, and the pupils had the chance to meet representatives from the world of business and enterprise.”
Pupils at Oakleigh Gardens have previously operated a stall at South Shields Market, and hope to set up another stall over Easter.
As a reward for their efforts, the pupils will spend their profits on a special event, which Mr Cogle said could be a meal out or a ten-pin bowling trip.
Oakleigh Gardens is one of two special schools in the borough, along with Greenfields, which will be replaced by a £9.5m new build in Hebburn.
The new base is being built on the site of Bedewell Primary School at Coleridge Square, Hebburn.
The school is set to open in September this year. It will cater for up to 130 pupils, aged from two to 19, with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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