Pupils show their acumen (From Free Press Series)

Pupils show their acumen

1:39pm Thursday 29th June 2006 in Pontypool news By Lorna Phelan

ABERSYCHAN Comprehensive School has been crowned king of the stockmarket after winning a national trading competition held in York last week.

The five business study pupils were entered into the final of the contest at York Race Course after winning the Welsh heat.

It is the first time the inter-school Stock Market Challenge has been held nationally and the youngsters, Kate Brown, Thomas Huntley, Ashley Davies, Shaney Edwards, Robert Goodfield under the teaching of Christine Thomas, competed against teams from 23 other schools from all over the UK to become the overall champions.

The event was sponsored by Norwich Union and is designed to introduce youngsters to the world of finance, business and enterprise.

The youngsters had to demonstrate their skills as fund managers on the stock market floor trading company stocks and foreign exchange through role-playing.

The competitors were required to undertake tasks such as banking and accountancy, analysing information and working with the media.

Fortunately the Abersychan team used their extensive knowledge to gain the most valuable portfolio on the day securing the pupils' position as winners. Assistant head teacher Bernita Kelly said everyone at Abersychan is delighted with the team's success.

"We were thrilled enough when we won the Welsh heat so we are absolutely delighted to be national champions," she said.

"Mrs Thomas and the pupils held strategy meetings on the train on the journey to York and it obviously paid off.

"The competition is a marvellous experience for the children, it gives them a great experience of the world of business."