Willink pupils top of the class

Teams of pupils from St Bartholomew’s, The Downs, Kennet and Trinity schools also competed in a Dragons-Den style final which saw them battling with a theoretical £100,000 to invest in one of three West Berkshire businesses, I-Motus, Hartwood Oak Buildings or Environmental Solutions.
The teams had been preparing for weeks, practicing their presentations and receiving one-on-one mentoring from businesses professionals.
Business process manager at Q Associates, Jane Sampson, mentored the Trinity School group.
She said: “It’s rewarding from my side as well as from their side. You see them blossoming and growing their confidence.”
The judges Greenham Common Trust finance director Alison Blackmore, West Berkshire Council economic development officer, Janet Duffield and Kier Construction marketing assistant, Georgina Wilmott eventually crowned The Willink pupils as the winners at the final, held at The Organic Research Centre, Hamstead Marshall, last Wednesday.
Ms Blackmore said that the winners’ way that they had introduced and presented themselves, along with their confidence, put them a cut above their competitors.
The team, Prime Investments, comprised Dominic Allwood, Zoe Jones, Dominic Vermaat, Oliver Brown, Oliver Dodd and Katherine Ramchand who said they said they were “ecstatic” with their achievement, admitting they felt under pressure to steal the title with the school winning four out of seven years.
Dominic Allwood felt their use of video helped secure the victory, making them stand out from their competitors.
“We were thinking what we could do to make us stand out from the rest,” he said, adding thanks to teacher Miss Plum for her support.
They were awarded a trophy and Waterstones vouchers for their success.