A week of CV writing, interviews and business challenges that would have tested any of Alan Sugar’s Apprentice candidates was undertaken by Clarendon Academy Year 10 students.

Project leaders were appointed as teams at the Trowbridge school competed to organise school proms. Nadia Bakali, a Falcon House prefect, said: “Being formally interviewed was a little bit scary, but it is all great experience and will help with my university interviews.”

Tom Nolan and Julie Thomas, the futures leader and assistant principal, organised the events. Mrs Thomas said: “At a time when the head of the CBI, John Cridland, has emphasised the need for young people to increase their knowledge of the workplace, this programme aims to start them on their journey towards becoming the highly-skilled workforce employers are looking for.”

Year 7 pupils, studying charity and community, were challenged to organise an event to raise funds for a charity of their choice. Matthew Wood, Georgia Richards and Julie Diggins chose a sponsored walk for Help for Heroes and raised more than £500. They enlisted relatives and friends for the walk along the Kennet and Avon Canal towpath from Avoncliff to Trowbridge. Two family members kayaked along the canal to collect contributions from boaters. Georgia’s father, an Army veteran, wore his campaign medals and was able to explain the role of Help for Heroes in the community.

Last month, Year 10s went to Chepstow Castle in Wales for an outdoor performance of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet; a play they had been studying for two terms.