ENTERPRISING pupils from Queen Anne's School in Caversham were crowned winners of a national competition after visiting Buckingham Palace on Monday (March 6).

A team of Year 9 girls called 'Little Acorn' dazzled Dragons' Den star, Peter Jones, at the Tycoon in Schools competition, rising above the fierce competition of more than 2,000 children.

Seven girls walked away with the Key Stage 3 prize after selling handmade decorative family trees, as a result of a start-up loan from the Peter Jones Foundation.

Peter Jones CBE said: "It is always such a great honour to crown the winners of Tycoon in Schools at Buckingham Palace.

"This year, we officially opened up the competition to primary schools, and it was incredibly exciting to meet some of our youngest Tycoons to date.

“Every year we see an incredibly high standard of business ideas come to fruition and this year has been no exception.

"I have been bowled over by the achievements of all the students throughout the competition, and it has certainly been the most successful Tycoon in Schools yet."

After months of planning and selling, a panel of judges decided Little Acorn had been the most successful team in terms of profitability, teamwork and community engagement.

The ceremony was hosted by HRH The Duke of York, Patron of the Peter Jones Foundation, as part of his ongoing support of the Tycoon in Schools competition.

Anne Tynan, Economics teacher at Queen Anne’s School, added: “We are thrilled to have won the Key Stage 3 category of Tycoon in Schools and so proud of the hard work and commitment the Little Acorn team have demonstrated over the last few months.

“It’s been an honour to meet HRH The Duke of York and Peter Jones today and the competition has been a great learning experience for the students.”