GWENT teenagers had a dream come true when they took over the running of a hotel for a day.

St Julian's High School took over the running of the Jarvis Wentloog Hotel, on the A48 at Castleton.

The initiative, by GNVQ and GCSE students from St. Julian's, was part of Springboard UK's Careers Festival Week 2001.

The 20 students worked in reception, housekeeping, kitchen, conference and events and the Arts Grill.

The students gained a valuable taste of life in a busy commercial hotel to support their work in GNVQ Hospitality and Catering, and GCSE Catering.

Jarvis Wentloog general manager Frank Whitaker said: "I'm delighted that once again St Julian's are able to work in partnership with the Jarvis Wentloog Hotel to support Springboard's commitment to promoting hospitality and catering as a first-choice career.

"It's great to see the pupils come to think of such a career as both fun and challenging. "The hotel has built up a very constructive relationship with Anne Flynn, at St Julian's, over the last four years.

"In addition to this event, the hotel provides a two-week placement on a rolling basis to both the GNVQ and GCSE students. "Their experience here contributes to their year-end result, and some students continue to work at the hotel once their placement comes to an end - positive proof that the system works."

The students carried out a wide range of activities in the hotel, such as making beds and cleaning rooms, testing the chemical levels in the swimming- pool, checking guests out, taking sales calls, preparing and serving lunch for themselves and also the hotel's conference clients on the day.

Student Jennifer Lovell, aged 15, said: "It was great! I've already got an application form and can't wait for my 16th birthday in January so I can start work."

Fellow student Rebecca Stevens, also 15, said: "I enjoyed conference events the most. It was the most interesting. I've also got an application form - I'd like to work in the Leisure Club."

Anne Flynn, the course tutor at St Julian's, said: "The contact with the Jarvis Wentloog Hotel is great, and the kids love it here.

"St Julian's has invested heavily in new catering facilities for pupil use, which opened in September.

"That investment wouldn't have happened without this level of interest in catering, and events like this make Catering GCSE and GNVQ courses more attractive."

In addition, the students received a short presentation from the Hotel & Catering Training Company (HCTC), Jarvis Hotels' partners in delivering NVQ training to employees.