Yesterday Ofsted inspectors warned too many business lessons for students across the country aged from 14 to 19 were 'uninspiring' and focussed too heavily on worksheets following an inspection of 118 secondary schools across the country.

But many business students in the county have been hitting the headlines in recent years because of their entrepreneurial ideas.

David Scott, of Scotts of Thrapston, was one of the judges in a competition based on the television show Dragons' Den this summer.

He said: "Students were exceptional and the judges felt the effort they had put into the competition was remarkable. Some of their ideas were very clever.

"I think our students show promise for the future, their curriculum is good and the fact they were doing work outside of lessons shows they are motivated."

Other schools in the county have also demonstrated their methods are producing young entrepreneurs.

Earlier this year, sixth form students at Bishop Stopford School in Kettering marked their last days at the school by selling hooded tops with the names of all the school-leavers and raised £1,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Ferrers Specialist Arts College, in Queensway, Higham Ferrers, has seen its number of GCSE students taking business more than double to 70 this year after its teaching staff was joined by Alex Collins whose previous roles included positions in the travel industry and in business networking for a telecommunications provider.

Mr Collins, said: "We're striving to build links with the business community and we hold enterprise days at school where students think about business."