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Primary school children have been busy serving customers in their pupil-run cafe – raising enough money for a trip to Harry Potter Studios.

St Helen’s RC Primary School, in Caerphilly, relaunched its Caffi Blasus last September – serving parents, grandparents and residents alike.

Originally opened in 2018, the cafe was forced to close due to the Covid pandemic – but it’s now back up and running, with pupils learning key life skills through it.

Over the past academic year, Caffi Blasus has been spearheaded by Year 5 pupils (ages nine and ten) in groups, with support from school staff.

One staff member guides the children through the baking process, while another helps them to serve customers.

Each week, on a rotating schedule, the pupils select the menu and take charge of baking, with their creations sold to staff, parents, and the local community on Friday mornings.

The cafe, which has been given a five-star food hygiene rating from the Food Standards Agency, also teaches pupils about money and entrepreneurialism, and boosts their creative and teamwork skills.

The funds raised through the cafe since September have covered the costs of Year 5 pupils visiting Harry Potter Studios in London, as well as giving each pupil £12 spending money for the trip.

A parent of a Year 5 pupil said: “The invaluable life skills and opportunities that all the children experience within Caffi Blasus at nine and ten-years-old is amazing and we think that all primary schools should have a similar set-up.

“As our eldest is now leaving St Helens we are reflecting on how fortunate we are as a family to have been a part of St Helens Primary. The Harry Potter trip, with the added touch of £12 spending money for each pupil, was a wonderful experience. Thank you, St Helen’s, for creating lasting memories for our children.”

With the summer holidays now underway, headteacher Sophie Sanchez confirmed the cafe will reopen in September.

She said: “We’re very excited to continue this tradition, offering another learning experience that extends beyond the classroom.

“We’re so grateful for the support we’ve received from parents and teachers and look forward to many more years of this wonderful initiative.”