Head girl gets chance to run academy shop
A teenage head girl who was on the brink of leaving City Academy Norwich because of money worries has stayed on after being offered a wage to set up and run a new shop.
Serena Guy is managing the CAN CAN Shop at the Academy with business partner and fellow student Nicola Holt.
The pair, who are both using the experience as part of their business studies A-level course, admitted to first-day nerves yesterday as the shop opened for business.
And Serena, 17, from Hutchinson Road, Earlham, told how her business break had enabled her to stay at the academy into its sixth form.
She said: 'I was head girl at the school and they asked me if I was going to stay on. I said I was going to have to do a course at City College Norwich because I needed to do a job in the city.
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'I don't get the education maintenance allowance and said I couldn't afford to stay at City Academy.
'The principal was there when was I was speaking about it and said he would come up with something within a week.'
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Serena, who is studying business and PE at City Academy and psychology at City College Norwich, added: 'He came back and asked if I would like a job running a shop in the school. I was very happy to do that.'
Serena had to compile a business plan and carry out market research among the students. She also recruited her business partner Nicola, 16, from George Fox Way, West Earlham, who said yesterday: 'I wanted to support her and thought it would be a good experience. I'm a bit nervous, though.'
Serena said the shop would be selling stationery, snacks, drinks, gloves and umbrellas.
The plan is to extend the offer to include seasonal gifts at Easter and Comic Relief goods. The shop will be open every lunchtime on school days.
Do you have an education story? Call Steve Downes on 01263 513920 or email steve.downes@archant.co.uk. You can also follow @stevedownes1973 on Twitter.
