NORTH-EAST pupils will be the first in the UK to benefit from an innovative programme that challenges youngsters to run a city and create a vibrant economy.

Devised in the United States, Enterprise City sees children take control of their own city, make rules and discover the consequences of individual and group decisions.

It is initially being targeted at primary school pupils, who will apply and be interviewed for various roles and then spend the day running a model city.

This week, Enterprise England, the company that brought the programme to the UK, held a special launch event at Durham Leadership Centre in Spennymoor.

The team were joined by youngsters from Pelton Community School in Pelton, near Chester-le-Street.

Dillon Openshaw and Alvyn Pun, who are both in year six, were in charge of a café, where they sold cakes and drinks.

Dillon said: “We’ve been doing what adults do every day. I had an interview and I got this job. It's just been amazing to have the chance to do this sort of stuff.”

The programme, which incorporates numeracy, literacy, citizenship and art and design, was successfully piloted earlier this year at St Mary’s RCVA Primary School in Newton Aycliffe and Enterprise England now intends to roll out the programme across the North-East and beyond.

Gail Mason, year six teacher at St Mary’s, said she was impressed by the levels of engagement and enthusiasm the pupils displayed.

“Particularly impressive, was the way in which children, who wouldn’t normally excel academically, were allowed to come to the forefront and demonstrate skills of leadership, organisation and accepting responsibilities,” she said.

For more information contact darrenanderson@enterprisecity.org or catherine.robson@durham.gov.uk