The Independent reports on the exercise at Rawmarsh Junior School in Rotherham, where children were challenged to see who could make the most from their business by the end of the week.

Businesses the kids came up with included car washing, shoe shining and selling homemade cakes and biscuits. The article shows how the children quickly learned real business lessons about pricing and the importance of market research.

It is thought that a similar programme could be rolled out nationwide in the future, and a report is currently being prepared on what schools could be doing to improve enterprise education. John Healey, the Labour Treasury member for Wentworth, commented:

"The driving forces of the modern economy are innovation, competition, skills and enterprise. If we are to create a culture of enterprise for all, we must start with our schools, across the full range from primary to late secondary and college years."