SCHOOLCHILDREN were ‘appy’ for a break from the usual timetable as computer giant Intel ran an Apprentice-style workshop for future app designers.

Year 7 pupils from Lydiard Park Academy designed and marketed applications for Intel’s new Ultrabook laptop devices with the help of staff from the Pipers Way company.

The finalists gave presentations to their peers and a winner was selected by a panel including Intel VP Pat Perry and headteacher Clive Zimmerman.

The winning app was a game based on healthy eating and the six-strong team were praised for the concept and the idea of giving a proportion of the profits to charity.

Abinash Rajvendrakumar, 12, of winning team Limitless, said: “It’s great to win – we didn’t think we were gong to as there were some good apps. We came up with it because we thought it would be useful and fun.”

Chris Dobbs, assistant principal, said: “We wanted to engage with the community and work with a firm like Intel on a project. It’s all about giving the students the idea of what it is like in industry and getting them to work as a team – they really enjoyed it.”

VP Pat Perry said: “All of them did an outstanding job. The winner stood out for a couple of reasons. I liked that they thought about giving some of the profit back to charity.”