Models will show off the latest spring styles and guests will be able to bid for designer sunglasses and handbags at a stylish fashion event at a Bristol hotel.

But a team of professional event managers isn't behind the show – every aspect of the event has been organised by four 17 and 18-year-old pupils at Ridings High School.

As well as raising money for local charity Paul's Place, the organisers hope the event will also help them get good grades in the enterprise assignment that's part of their A-level business studies course.

The Year 13 team are: Joe Marshfield, 17; Claire Harvey, 17; Emma Sansom, 18; and Sophie Harris, 17 – under the guidance of their business studies teacher Liz Pell.

The students set up their own company, Orchid Enterprise, and were appointed to different roles, with Joe in charge of organising the venue, Claire doing publicity, Emma as managing director and Sophie taking care of finance.

Their fashion event Project Runway (which has no connection with the Sky TV show of the same name) will take place at the Holiday Inn, Filton, this coming Wednesday, February 25. The 200-strong audience will enjoy a fashion show, charity auction, raffle and designer shop.

It is raising funds for Bristol-based charity Paul's Place, which organises recreational and self-development activities for physically disabled adults, some of whom will be taking part in the fashion show.

Compere for the evening will be Jessica Kellgren-Hayes, who was a finalist in the BBC TV series Britain's Missing Top Model, and the host of the charity auction will be TV and radio presenter Jed Pitman.

Emma says: "We've had to go out and do everything ourselves, from booking the hotel to contacting companies to ask if they would donate an item for our charity auction in return for featuring company name and logo in the programme. So many organisations have been incredibly supportive and we're hoping this will really be an amazing event."

The event will showcase the latest designs from House of Fraser and John Lewis and clothes donated by the Arcadia Group, with pictures being taken by local photographer Mike Rich.

Each guest at the fashion show will receive a goodie bag and get the chance to buy fashions from the Designer Shop, which will be opened at the end of the show.

In between the fashion events, there will be entertainment from Grace Notes, a trio of Ridings High sixth formers who will be performing a medley of songs.

School friends of the Orchid Enterprise team also designed the posters to publicise the event, which are the work of Year 10 GCSE graphics students Dannii Nicholls and Rachael Risdal.

Some Ridings High pupils will be modelling in the fashion show alongside five models from Paul's Place who were nominated to take part by the charity.

"We decided to raise funds for Paul's Place because it's local and such a deserving charity," says Sophie.

"Our target is to raise at least £2,000 to support its work."

Teacher Mrs Pell says: "They've been able to put into practice a lot of things they had already learnt in the classroom. I've been particularly impressed with the way they've put everything into place themselves. I'm very proud of them."

Mrs Pell was an events manager at IBM before she went into teaching, and has considerable experience of arranging corporate and charity events.

"I really enjoy teaching students skills that they can use in the workplace," she says.

"We went to London Fashion Week in October to do research, and the students had a great time talking to designers and TV presenters like Anna Richardson.

"When they got back, they decided they wanted to emulate what they'd seen at London Fashion Week, and so they set up Orchid Enterprise and began organising Project Runway."

The students persuaded Anna Richardson to give them a signed London Fashion Week T-shirt, and they also managed to obtain Bruce Oldfield sunglasses and handbags from Osprey and Mulberry for their charity auction.

"We've learned about all sorts of things, such as health and safety requirements, as a result of organising this event," says Joe.

Claire adds: "It's been a fantastic experience. I've really enjoyed contacting people and helping to organise the show.

"I've already decided that this is the sort of work I want to go into when I leave school."

Project Runway will take place at the Holiday Inn, Filton, on Wednesday, February 25. Doors open at 7.30pm for an 8pm start.

Tickets cost £10 and can be obtained by sending a cheque made payable to Orchid, together with the name and address to whom the tickets can be posted, to Mrs E Pell, The Ridings High School, High Street, Winterbourne, Bristol BS36 1JL. For queries call 01454 252019 or email Epell@ridingshigh.org