FOUR Malmesbury School students have beaten more than 30,000 others from around the country in a young investors’ competition and are now in with a chance of winning an all-expenses paid trip to the Big Apple.

The four-strong team of Adam McClelland, Toby Journeaux, Jamie Wreathall and Ollie Blake, all aged 18, have made it through to the national final of the 2015 Student Investor Challenge.

In doing so they have outperformed the FTSE 100 share index in growing their portfolios.

At the end of April they will take part in the national final in London where they will compete in a live trading simulation.

There they will be up against seven other teams who will all deliver an interactive business presentation to an expert panel of judges.

The winners will secure an educational trip to take in the sights and sounds of Manhattan later this year.

The Student Investor Challenge is a free to enter competition, run by the financial education college ifs (CORRECT) University College.

It provides teams of up to four students aged between 14-19 with a virtual £100,000 to trade shares, stocks, futures and assets and the opportunity to experience the dynamic world of share dealing.

This year’s challenge attracted more than 10,000 teams where the top 50 teams’ investments totalled more than £7million in just a four month period.

The top eight teams have had to overcome several hurdles to make the final on April 30.

Andrew McVernon, teacher at Malmesbury School, said: “As the teacher, I can claim no credit for the team’s success.

“My sole contribution has been to provide the opportunity for them to demonstrate their ability.”

Alison Pask, vice principal at ifs University College, said: “This year’s contest has been one of the most keenly-fought yet, with very little to choose from among the top trading-teams.

“To reach this stage, the team from Malmesbury School have done exceedingly well.

“The Student Investor Challenge is designed to spark an interest among teenagers in learning about finance and helps to develop a broader range of skills, such as team-working, researching, communication and analysing current events.

"Regardless of which team eventually triumphs, all have enjoyed a memorable and worthwhile experience.”