A CHURCH school in Powys has launched its own range of luxury chocolate.

The children of Llandysilio Church in Wales School in Four Crosses near Welshpool have developed three flavours of chocolate bar which went on sale at the school’s Christmas Fayre on Friday, December 6.

The school have been working with a local company, Mid Wales based Coco Pzazz, to develop the product, with the 72 pupils selecting the flavours, designing the packaging, carrying out market research and setting the pricing policy.

The three flavours are Lemon Meringue White Chocolate, Very Berry Dark Chocolate and Cookie Mallow Milk Chocolate. 

The headteacher of Llandysilio School, Amanda Williams, said: “We are all so excited to be launching our own range of chocolate.  The children have been working very hard since September to develop the product, design the advertising and marketing and understand more about the journey of cocoa bean to chocolate bar.

“During the process we have incorporated a range of learning elements into our school life and lessons and this has been fascinating for all of us.

“We’re now known as the chocolate school and have launched our own website at thechocolateschool.org to promote the products beyond our local community.”

Recent changes to the primary school curriculum in Wales, encourage the development of entrepreneurial and creative ways of learning. 

The Director of Education and Lifelong Learning at the Diocese of St Asaph, Rosalind Williams, said: “This project is a great example of how our schools are working creatively and innovatively to realise ‘the four purposes’ of the new curriculum for Wales. 

"These are designed to help all children and young people be ambitious, capable learners who are ready to learn throughout their lives; enterprising, creative contributors who are ready to play a full part in life and work; and ethical, informed citizens who are ready to be citizens of Wales and the world.”

Llandysilio School has created a link with a school in Ghana, which has a Cocoa Tree within its grounds.  The children in The Smile School, Ghana are using the beans from the tree to make their own chocolate and are sending photos to their peers in Llandysilio.

Next term, the school will be building on their learning by understanding more about making ethical choices, fair trade and sustainability. 

You can find out more about the Chocolate School at https://www.thechocolateschool.org/