Robust responses in the face of tough questions from judges in a Bank of England competition have helped a St Albans secondary school win its regional heat.

A team from Sandringham School on The Ridgeway was placed first in the Luton heat of the bank’s prestigious ‘Target 2.0 Interest Rate Challenge’.

Students were competing last Tuesday (24) at the Putteridge Bury conference centre against other teams including one from St Albans High School for Girls.

The sixteenth annual challenge involves 297 teams across the United Kingdom vying for the challenge trophy and £5,000 for their school or college.

Over the course of 42 regional heats teams of students, aged 16-18, have been analysing UK and global economic data, and its possible impact on inflation and the economic outlook.

They decide whether current monetary policy is appropriate or needs to be adjusted, to meet the 2.0 per cent inflation target set by the Government.

Sandringham’s team gave a 15 minute presentation to Bank of England judges, who praised the pupils for their understanding of economics, presentation style and ‘robust’ responses in the face of tough questioning.

Chair of the judging panel, Phil Eckersley, described it as a “very tight contest”.

The team will now compete in the penultimate round of the contest in February before, hopefully, reaching the final in March.