Business and Economics students from Bishop Walsh Catholic School have won an annual ‘management games’ event.

The Year 12 team won the annual CIPFA Management Games hosted at Birmingham University – the third time a team from the school has brought home the prize in recent years.

Sixth form students from across the Midlands met to take part in the recent event which saw them acting out the roles of the management team in the fictional Lyechester Borough Council.

The game was a management team initiative run for sixth form and college students by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and is one of a series that have taken place throughout the Midlands.

In a full day the management teams faced a visit from their local MP, an angry Trade Union Official and a call from the press responding to rumours of their intended plans.

All while trying to maintain the day job of achieving a balanced budget with significant cuts - required to continue to provide and develop its services and provision from a reduced level of resources.

Throughout the day Bishop Walsh’s team - Michael Zajac, Isabella Davison, Matthew Earle, Sophie Grant, Sophie Leydon, Gentil Mugisha and Thomas Lees - worked tirelessly in collaboration with a mentor from Birmingham City Council to reach a final decision on cost savings, that both met the council budget and protected front-line services in the borough.

Following the final presentation, the team was commended for its ability to think creatively in finding solutions and communicate them clearly to judges.

Whilst all members of the Bishop Walsh team performed outstandingly the judges awarded Michael Zajac an individual prize for his ability to bring the best out of his management team in his role as Chief Executive.

Sean Barlow, Teacher of Business at Bishop Walsh Catholic School, said: “Whilst a convincing six-point margin of victory in a competitive field was fair reward for the students’ endeavours, it is the experiences and confidence gained from the event that will be the lasting legacy for those involved.”