Brilliant bakers from East Kent schools are holding their own version of the Great British Bake Off – and if successful, it could be expanded across the county.

Pupils from six schools will be raising money for a children’s mental health charity and a children’s literacy charity through the Buster’s Bake Off competition, which is being supported by the KM Charity Team.

The youngsters will be sponsored to bake a creation of their own choosing – cake, bread, pie, pizza – and bring it into school during the week beginning on Monday, June 25.

They can bake at home or at school, but must take no more than an hour and a half, and there will be a limit on the number of ingredients they can use. Each school will pick a winner, who will go through to a grand final in the autumn.

The participating schools are the Spires Academy, St Edmund’s School, St Anselm’s Catholic School and the King’s School in Canterbury, St Lawrence College in Ramsgate, and the Folkestone Academy - all members of East Kent Schools Together, a partnership between state and independent schools and Canterbury Christ Church University.

The money raised will be split equally between the charity Young Minds and the KM Charity Team’s work with schools.

KM Charity Team chief executive Simon Dolby said: “It was the pupils who came up with the idea, and we thought it was so exciting and were delighted to get involved.

“The fantastic thing about baking is it’s something everyone can have a go at, because there is such a range of things you can make and so much room to be inventive. You don’t have to be an experienced cook to have a go at a Victoria sponge, but children who are confident have the scope to experiment with something quite adventurous, maybe making their own bread or delicious pie.

“We would love this to become a Kent-wide competition but all I can say at the moment is watch this space!”

For more information about the KM Charity Team, visit www.kmcharityteam.co.uk

• The children’s charity also runs the county's official cookery contest for schools and families, Young Cooks, which is now open to entries from any youngsters across the South East aged between six and 19 years. Find out more at www.YoungCooks.org.uk.