Students at Roding Valley High School got their chance to fill Simon Cowell's shoes this week when they were challenged to come up with their own business launch for a pop band.

The year 10 students had to devise a plan to market, fund, design productions and performances beofre selling their idea to an "audience"

The plan was part of a special "Business enterprise" day to help students understand the problems and skills needed to run your own business.

To decide on winning individuals and teams, the judges, from ‘Enterprise Education’ - a visiting company who helped set up the day - also watched each act perform and awarded points for their quality of their idea and their presentation to the audience.

Roding Valley Head Geoff Mangan said: "Everyone enjoyed the day and the winners were assured that their skills would take them far in the business world."