With less than three weeks to go a team from Falmouth School is leading the way in a virtual stocks and shares competition.
The year 12 and 13 students in the Falmouth 2 team are competing with 28 other teams from 10 schools across Cornwall in the Virtual Trading Challenge.
The competition, which is now in its fourth year, is run by Truro and Wadebridge based independent financial adviser, Worldwide Financial Planning, and Cornwall Learning Education Business Partnership.
Beginning in September last year each team was given a virtual £100,000 to invest in the stock market.
With the competition due to close on March 25, Falmouth 2 are in the lead having made a 75.58 percent return.
“The return that Falmouth 2 has made to date is incredible,” said Worldwide’s managing director, Peter McGahan.
“After just six weeks they were £40,000 ahead of their nearest rivals after they had become the only team in the competition’s history to see one of their shares double in value.
“But with the scores now hidden on the website so the teams can only see who is in the lead, and not by how much, anything could happen in the last three weeks. We saw this in 2009 when Bodmin went from fifth to claim the title with two days to go after one of their shares rocketed in value.”
If Falmouth 2 do hold on to win they will be treated with a visit to the Bank of England, a boat trip on Worldwide’s RIB and £400.
Chris Rowe from Worldwide, said: “Each year the standard of the competition gets stronger and stronger.
“When you consider what the market has been like over the last couple of years Falmouth’s performance is excellent by any standard.”
Kate Whetter of Cornwall Learning Education Business Partnership said: “It’s so exciting to follow the progress of the pupils.
“Falmouth 2 made a tremendous start to the challenge and it will be interesting to see if any other team can make ground in the last few weeks with some inspired trading.”
For more information on Worldwide Financial Planning, contact them on 01208 816667 or visit temp.wwfp.net.