A Calne school has received an award for best teamwork - after creating an innovative new card game.

St Mary’s Young Enterprise company, ‘Mushy Peas’, represented the school at a virtual Area Final, competing against schools from Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Bristol.

Thirty girls in Year 12 took part in the Young Enterprise Company Programme this year.

The 'Mushy Peas' team created a fun-filled card game to raise people’s spirits, particularly given the challenges faced by everyone this year, in order to bring friends and family closer together. The colourful, dynamic game can be played either as an App or as a printable pdf.

Led by managing director, Saskia, the team submitted a professional ten-page report telling the story of their company in advance of the Area Final. Saskia, Khalilah, and Emily represented the team at the finals by giving an assured presentation on Zoom and skilfully answering a range of probing questions from the judges.

The judges were fulsome in their praise, saying theirs was a ‘very confident presentation with energy and enthusiasm and great use of visuals’, the product was ‘innovative with great foundations for growth’ and that the team had ‘adapted brilliantly to accommodate the challenges of COVID’. All in all, they came across as a ‘well thought-out, researched, inclusive and considered company’ that has created ‘a scalable business with a real future’.

Mushy Peas game

Mushy Peas game

The girls won awards for Best Report, Best Presentation, Innovation and the overall trophy for the Best Company in Wiltshire.

Following their success at the County Final, the team then took part in the virtual South West Regional Final, held online on Tuesday May 25.

The girls, led by Deputy Head Girl, Saskia, were judged on the basis of a professional ten-page report telling the story of their company, a stimulating interview with Young Enterprise judges and a confident four-minute video presentation. The girls won an award for Best Teamwork in the South West.

The school said: "Congratulations to all the girls involved; it has been an exciting journey for them and they have developed a whole host of skills that will be invaluable in their careers."