Pupils set for mock stock fun

Nov 12 2009 by Debbie Hall, West Lothian Courier

PUPILS will get the chance to experience the excitement of taking part in a mock stock market challenge.

Students from Bathgate Academy, Deans Community High School and Linlithgow Academy will get the opportunity to deal on a live trading floor when they take part in the seventh annual event.

Twenty five schools from across the south east of Scotland will take part in the Skills Scotland challenge in Edinburgh next week.

This will be the first of five challenges which will take place across Scotland between November and March, involving pupils from 125 schools.

This year the sponsors have made this unique experience accessible to thousands of pupils by giving the participating schools a free year-long licence for the Stock Market Challenge online resource.

And in the run up to the events, business education and maths teachers will run in-school challenges to select the five pupils who will represent them.

Working in small teams, the S3 pupils will be challenged to use their skills to manage a portfolio of shares and foreign currency. They will make their investment decisions by interpreting and analysing information from the financial markets.

The simulated live trading will take place over a two-hour period and the team with the highest portfolio at the closing bell wins.

Damien Yeates, chief executive of Skills Development Scotland, said: “The economy and the financial market affect our everyday lives.

“Stock Market Challenge is a great way to allow young people to experience first hand how the markets operate and, perhaps, even shape their future career aspirations, giving them a taste for working in financial services.

“The event is now well established in the south east of Scotland.

“It is not only a great a way to make young people aware about how the financial market operates, but it also helps to develop employability skills.

“We are committed to ensuring that our youngsters are prepared for the world of work or are ready to enter college or university after leaving school and the Stock Market Challenge helps towards fulfilling this goal.”