SECONDARY school students from Thornbury presented projects and proposals to parents, staff and business leaders on Thursday during a business forum at Eastwood Park.

Setting up stands to showcase their work over the past year, over 100 pupils from The Castle School spoke to members of the Castle and Marlwood Premium Partners group during the networking function

Among the projects on show were student made lenses in telescopes and microscopes that were made with Essilor, a go-kart that was designed, built and raced by year nine students from Castle School at Tetbury’s Wacky Races, and an exhibition of plants grown from seeds that had been into space.

Guests were also treated to a number of group presentations by pupils on improving student life within the school.

Castle School head teacher Peter Smart said: “The Premium Partners scheme provides a fantastic opportunity for our students to gain an insight into business and enterprise.

“The skills that the students develop are extremely valuable, and I have seen them grow in confidence.

”At Castle School we pride ourselves in delivering a whole education and emphasising achievement for everyone.

“As one boy from year 9 said, 'I've been able to work with others to get things done and I feel more confident about speaking in front of people.”

Tess Wilkinson, director of Premium Partners for Schools highlighting the potential for business to use the scheme’s website to advertise apprenticeships, as well as Saturday and summer jobs, said: “The students from the four secondary schools in our trust all have access to this website.

“Because of this, companies can feel confident that their apprenticeships will be seen by over 1,000 students from year 11 to year 13.”

For more information or to find out more about the work of Premium Partners, visit thornbury-premium-partners.co.uk