TALENTED students at Avonbourne sixth form are staking their claim for a place in the final of a national enterprise competition.

Team Chrysalis, a group of teenage art students, has been named in the top 10 of the Peter Jones’ Tycoons in Schools contest.

The team is following in the footsteps of last year’s Funneling 4 Fuel team, which won the overall national prize for its eco social enterprise, collecting the top award from Prince Andrew at Buckingham Palace.

And in 2014 Avonbourne’s Team 4k also made it to the final three in the competition and picked up a special ‘community engagement’ recognition from Prince Andrew.

This year’s team are using their original artwork to make gift cards, t-shirts, tote bags and framed pictures which are then sold to raise money for charity Free the Children, an international organisation founded by human rights advocates which promotes youth empowerment.

They have received a £1,000 loan from Dragon’s Den star Peter Jones to get their business off the ground.

Executive headteacher of the Avonbourne Trust, Debbie Godfrey-Phaure, said: “We are absolutely delighted and proud that a team of Avonbourne students has made it to the final 10 of Peter Jones’ Tycoons in Schools competition for the third year running.

“What’s even more thrilling is to see our students pool their amazing talents to raise money for Free the Children, a charity our Trust supports and is dear to our hearts.”

The team - Bertie Deakin, Jodie West, Alice Frampton, Hannan Kirkwood, Anna-Louise Graham and Lauren Smith - has also been supported by Yellow Buses which has been selling their gift cards.

The Bournemouth-based transport company stepped in to boost the coffers after admiring their business skills.

Jenni Wilkinson, Head of Marketing at Yellow Buses, said: “We are delighted to support such a worthy cause.

“It is fantastic to see young people use their business acumen to benefit others less fortunate than them. They are already winners in our eyes.”