EAZ funding for a Year 9 'Broadening Horizons' Day took some Bedford High School pupils to the luxurious Marriott Hotel in Worsley. The pupils were shown around the hotel and introduced to the world of work.

As they left, Peter Nicholson, Head of Human Resources at the Marriott Hotel, set them a challenge to design a poster that could be used to help with their staff training of their 'Spirit to Serve' motto.

In the new Autumn term a group of Y10 girls, took up the challenge. Two bright pupils, Sarah Peers and Lyndsey Braithwaite, developed the ideas from the group, met the challenge and produced the A1 sized poster.

Following a professional power point presentation to Peter at the hotel, the girls showed him the finished design. The Marriott team (above) were very impressed with the obvious hard work and commitment shown by the girls and even more so by the brilliant poster. He commented that they would never have come up with such a good design themselves and doubted that a professional designer could beat it. Peter was quick to recommend that the poster should be shown to the national Managing Director and other Senior Management.

As the Marriott's Hospitality and Catering Ambassador for Education, Peter was positive that he would use the poster for his own staff training and was confident that other regions would be eager to include the Bedford High School initiative in their training schedule.

The Bedford pupils and staff involved in the project have been invited to attend the hotel's annual Staff Forum in three weeks time when the company will use the poster to help report the company's progress to the hotel staff.

Mr Steve Preston, Headteacher at the school, was very proud of the girl's achievements.

"It is a perfect example of the benefits of partnerships between quality commercial enterprises such as the Marriott Hotel and fresh imaginative young ideas from pupils such as those from Bedford High School," said Mr Preston.