Two 12-year-olds, Big Dreams and a Bold Card Game
Two enterprising students from Boneo Primary School have turned a school market-day project into a national moment of recognition. Sherlock Sykes and Charlie Dewar, both 12, were named finalists in the Teen in Business Awards for their homemade card game, Legend Bound. The project began as a simple Year 6 market day idea, but its appeal and polish quickly caught the attention of judges and players alike.
From Market Day to National Spotlight
The journey of Legend Bound started as a hands-on learning exercise. On market day, students are encouraged to prototype products, pitch ideas, and learn the basics of entrepreneurship. Sherlock and Charlie treated Legend Bound as more than a school project: they crafted a balanced game with strategic choices, collectible components, and clear, friendly rules that could be enjoyed by players of all experience levels. Their diligence paid off when judges in the Teen in Business Awards saw the real potential behind a game born in a classroom.
What makes Legend Bound stand out
Legend Bound blends accessible gameplay with depth, encouraging collaboration, planning, and critical thinking. Its design process emphasized affordability and scalability, two crucial factors for any budding business venture. The students tested prototypes with classmates and family, iterating on feedback to improve balance, play time, and thematic cohesion. In an era where many children are glued to screens, Legend Bound also offers a tangible, tangible alternative that families can enjoy together around a kitchen table or a community game night.
Acknowledgment and Impact
Being named a finalist in the Teen in Business Awards marks a meaningful milestone for Sherlock and Charlie. It recognizes not only their creativity but also their teamwork, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit. For Boneo Primary School, the achievement shines a light on the school’s emphasis on practical learning, problem-solving, and student-led initiatives. The recognition can inspire other students to explore entrepreneurship, game design, or product development in safe, supportive environments.
Future steps for the creators
With the finalist banner in hand, the team is looking ahead to further development of Legend Bound. Plans include refining production costs, creating a durable yet affordable card set, and exploring avenues to bring the game to wider audiences—potentially including local markets, school fairs, or digital adaptations that preserve the game’s core mechanics. Their success demonstrates that ideas conceived in the classroom can evolve into real-world projects with the right mentorship, persistence, and community support.
What this means for students and schools
Legends Bound’s journey illustrates a broader trend: when schools prioritize hands-on, inquiry-based learning, students gain practical skills that prepare them for future careers. Projects like this teach budgeting, marketing, teamwork, and user feedback—frameworks that translate beyond the classroom. The Teen in Business finalist recognition also emphasizes that young people have the creativity and business sense to contribute meaningfully to the local economy and culture of innovation.
Quotes and reflections
While a school project is typically measured in assessment marks, Sherlock and Charlie describe Legend Bound as a collaborative adventure. “We loved turning a market-day idea into something others could enjoy,” said one of the designers. “If people respond to the game, that validates our approach and makes us want to keep iterating.”
Conclusion
Legend Bound’s rise from a Year 6 market-day experiment to a Teen in Business Awards finalist is a testament to the power of student-led innovation. Sherlock Sykes and Charlie Dewar have shown that thoughtful design, teamwork, and courage to share a vision can translate into recognition that reaches beyond the school gates. As they continue to refine and expand their game, their story serves as an inspiring roadmap for other students dreaming of turning ideas into real-world ventures.
