Prep Entrepreneurs Hit the Jackpot with Trading Cards
The Prep School’s Business Enterprise Club has achieved remarkable success with their latest venture: custom-made, Bancroft’s branded trading cards, styled like Top Trumps. Each card features a member of staff, celebrating the teachers and mentors the children learn from and interact with every day.
Guided by Mrs Alex Adams, Mr Clive Pearson, and Mrs Louisa Ware, the club has turned this creative idea into a reality, showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit of our pupils. The team have created a buzz across the school, with demand for their cards exceeding supply in record time.
The cards, designed, cut, and assembled by the pupils, sold out almost immediately after launch.
Within just 30 minutes of sales, 700 packs were snapped up—an astonishing total of 3,500 individual cards.
Despite weeks of preparation and a highly organised production line, the club has struggled to keep up with the insatiable appetite of their fellow students.
Learning Real-Life Business Lessons
Through this venture, the pupils have gained a deeper understanding into the world of business. Anika, a member of the club, shared, “We’ve learned that you need to put a lot of hard work into something you’re making.” Arabella added, “It’s all about thinking of your audience—what everyone would like, from the youngest Alphas to the older Prep Twos.”
This enterprise has also taught pupils about money management. “We’ve learned how to use money wisely, calculate costs, and figure out how to sell at a profit,” said Ishta. The club estimates that their efforts will generate over £2,500 in profit, even after factoring in the £600+ cost of materials and resources required to manufacture and generate such a huge number of cards.
A Well-Oiled Production Line
The club has operated like a professional production team, with 36 pupils taking on roles such as cutting, corner-cutting, gluing, and quality control. Ellie explained the value of teamwork: “If everyone focuses on one part of the process, it’s much more efficient. It saves time and resources, and the cards come out perfectly.”
![IMG 2684[26]](https://www.bancrofts.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_268426-scaled.jpg)
Bringing Joy to the Playground
The cards have transformed break times at Bancroft’s Prep School. Pupils across year groups are trading, swapping, and playing with the cards, fostering friendships and creating a vibrant social scene. “It feels like we’ve made a difference,” said Zach. “Knowing that someone is holding a card I made feels amazing.”
The project has also encouraged charitable thinking among the pupils. Proceeds from the card sales will be reinvested into school improvements, such as new playground equipment, ensuring the whole community benefits.
What’s Next?
With demand showing no signs of slowing, the club is innovating to keep up. Plans are in place to sell individual cards, with common cards priced at 50p, rare cards at £1, and legendary cards at £1.50. On Friday, they’ll host a special sale where pupils can handpick cards to complete their collections—a move expected to generate several hundred pounds.
One thing is certain: the future of the Business Enterprise Club is as bright as the legendary cards everyone is clamouring for.
