Entrepreneurs share their experiences

Sir Tom Hunter at Oakgrove Primary School

Oakgrove Primary School in Glasgow used 'Charlie Fly and the Nice Dream' by Nicola Morgan and 'Down the Pan' by Theresa Breslin to increase the financial enterprise skills of pupils in their P6/P7 composite class.

As suggested by the support materials accompanying the stories, a follow-up activity to reading 'Charlie Fly and the Nice Dream' could be the interview of a successful entrepreneur.

With the suport of Hillhead High School (Oakgrove's associated high school for the New Learning Community) and Learning and Teaching Scotland, the class contacted Sir Tom Hunter to request that he work in partnership with them in one of their follow-up activities to reading the story, which focuses on enterprise activities.

Working with Sir Tom Hunter also allowed pupils the opportunity to look at financial responsibility - an area they discussed as a follow-up activity to 'Down the Pan' by Theresa Breslin. They welcomed the opportunity to discuss fair trade with Sir Tom and to question him about his interests and projects in Malawi and Rwanda.

Nicola Morgan at Oakgrove Primary School

Nicola Morgan was willing to share her own enterprise experiences with the youngsters and to show how these real-life situations had inspired her short story. The pupils were delighted with the opportunity to work with such a successful author and they found the experience was both motivating and inspirational for them.

Oakgrove pupils continued with follow-up activities after their interviews were completed. They have currently formed their own enterprise company and have analysed their personal skills in relation to positions in the company which they would like to fill.