HUNDREDS of pupils from St Helen and St Katharine School in Abingdon have turned £5 notes into almost £11,000 by coming up with original ways to raise money for international children’s charity World Vision.

More than 500 pupils were given a five pound note by the school and, using only their initial stake to buy supplies.

The girls the used their initiative and skills to invest in products that would help them raise even more money.

Ideas they came up with included busking, cake sales, car washing, painting T-shirts and making Christmas cards.

Anna Kelly, 11, said: “I wanted to help raise money for World Vision and so my sister Bethan and I applied for a licence and then went busking in Oxford.

“We set up outside our Marks and Spencer and began to play Irish folk tune duets.

“I was quite nervous but soon began to enjoy it as people started to give us money for World Vision.”

Anna and Bethan, 13, played their violins to raise £120.90, while another set of sisters Charis, 11, and Athalie Armon-Jones, 14, also armed with violins, netted £145.

The school’s pupils have already raised almost £11,000 with money still being collected.

The money will go towards supporting children in a community in Swaziland, which some of the girls hope to visit next year.

Sixth form student Martha Stone, 18, came up with a grand plan which raised more than £1,300.

She said: “As I am one of our school’s charity reps, and as I am studying art as one of my A levels, I decided to design three Christmas cards to convert my £5 into profits for World Vision.

“A local company sponsored the designs and Leach printers kindly printed them. It was a bit daunting collecting more than 20 boxes of cards but I have managed to sell them all and have so far raised over £1,300.

“I am thrilled that my work is now sending Christmas messages and, more importantly, is helping to sponsor children in Swaziland”.

Headteacher Rowan Edbrooke said: “This is the first time we have raised money in this way and I am delighted that the girls have responded so positively and creatively to the challenge.

“They have raised a significant amount of money towards improving the lives of children in Swaziland and have showed imagination, perseverance and entrepreneurship in the process.”