STUDENTS from Oxford Academy proved they had it in the bag after winning a competitive 'Dragons' Den' style challenge staged by the owners of the new Westgate.

Three schools from across Oxford have been honing their business skills for the #MadeinOxford competition to create their own pop-up retail concept to feature at Westgate Oxford when it opens in October.

Pupils from Oxford Academy pipped those from St Gregory the Great Catholic School and City of Oxford College to take home the win with their new handcrafted canvas tote bags.

The bags caught the judges' eye with the dreaming spires stencilled onto the bags with the words City of Oxford written below.

Inside the tag shows the strapline 'It's all in the bag'.

Oxford Academy headteacher Niall McWilliams said: "We are very proud of our students and delighted that they won the challenge.

"They have a great product and have worked hard to develop their idea, taking advice from teachers and business mentors along the way.

"It has been a fantastic opportunity to showcase their creative talents and entrepreneurial skills."

Students had to pitch their ideas to five 'dragons' made up of representatives from Oxford Local Enterprise Partnership and the property company behind the Westgate development, Westgate Oxford Alliance.

Staff from Westgate have been mentoring students for the past two months with a number of workshops looking at marketing, costing and pricing.

The winning 'Inside Oxford' concept came from a team of nine sixth form students; Abigail Clapton, Adeeka Baig , Ben Crozier , Dana Lanka , Lewis Pearce , Hudson Alves De Assis Junior, Priyanka Gandhi, Oxforhina Valente and Megan Thorpe.

Westgate Oxford general manager Brendan Hattam said: "We are thrilled to be able to support this worthwhile initiative and to see the student embrace the challenge with such passion and enthusiasm.

"All three schools delivered compelling and well thought out concepts and business plans, all of which we could see working in the pop-up retail space we are providing at Westgate Oxford. "Oxford Academy impressed that little bit more to secure the win but the runners up, St Gregory the Great Catholic School and City of Oxford College should be extremely proud of their hard work and achievement."

Orders have already been coming in for the winning tote bag and will go on sale to the public in the Westgate for its opening day on October 24.