This year, during Enrichment Week (1-5 July 2019), 9 pupils in Year 10 will be taking part in a new project that will test their entrepreneurship, design skills and international team work. It promises to be an excellent practical introduction to Business Studies and will provide an insight into the different elements of Marketing, Leadership and Management required to bring a product to market.

The Toothpaste Project requires preparation ahead of our departure and the Deer Park team have already participated in some initial activities and they are now in touch with their Dutch partners and hosts. This is helping them get to know each other and share their ideas for a new toothpaste.

‘We are delighted that Deer Park is taking part and bringing a group of pupils. It’s great that you are already involved in preparations for the project. I hope the pupils are enjoying it. I have heard from some of our pupils that they are communicating regularly with their partners.’ Gaynor Koobs, Project Leader, Alfrink College.

During their week in The Netherlands, the pupils will continue to work in international teams to develop and market their own brands of toothpaste. This will involve developing and making their own toothpaste, creating an advert, filming a TV commercial, designing the packaging and devising a business plan. Their work will then be judged by a team of entrepreneurs.

The group from Deer Park will be accompanied by Chiquita Henson, Headteacher, and the school’s Senior Lab Technician, Ken Stook. Mr Stook has already provided considerable support. He has introduced the group to an enormous range of toothpastes and ingredients. As a result of the team’s resourcefulness and recent experience, they have procured and tasted dental care products from as far afield as Portugal and Ghana!

‘I have been very impressed by the team’s commitment. This has been reflected in their punctuality and positive engagement in preparatory tasks. These have included investigation, toothpaste tasting and initial design ideas. They have a great sense of fun and lots of ideas. In our last session members of the team made their first batches of toothpaste. However, we all concluded, these need a little refining to balance flavour and colour! I am looking forward to seeing how their plans develop.’

Chiquita Henson, Headteacher