STUDENTS from Tudor Grange Academy recently swapped the classroom for the boardroom.

Pupils from the school joined others from across the Midlands to run an a fictional NHS Trust for the day at Birmingham University.

It was part of this year’s Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) Annual Sixth Form Management Games.

Taking place just a week before the emergency Budget, the exercise was designed to introduce sixth form and college students to the world of public sector finance and the challenges of running a public sector organisation.

Students from the school were put in charge of a fictitious NHS trust where they faced a range of challenges included a visit from an MP, an angry Trade Union Official, and a call from officials at the Treasury monitoring their plans to build a new hospital.

Kelly Watson, lead volunteer for the game, said: "The students involved really threw themselves into the game, they remained engaged throughout the day and hopefully will have taken much away that will be useful for their careers and general development.

"After their performance today I would not be surprised if some of the students involved in these games go on to become the public sector leaders of the future.”