A TEAM of Seevic students made almost £30,000 in their first three months of trading in a virtual world of stocks and shares.

The four students at the Benfleet college, nicknamed the Farmer’s Boys, went head to head with professionals and more than 30,000 students from across the UK to secure their place in the semi-final of the IFS Student Investor Challenge.

Pupils Daniel Farmer, Daniel Baldock, Jake Smith and Sam Cowan could nowwin an all-expenses-paid educational trip to New York and prize money for their college, if they make it through to the final.

Clive Playford, business tutor at Seevic College, was also the top-ranked teacher in the competition, with a virtual profit of more than £26,000.

He said: “We had 17 teams enter this year. Entry was open to any student, regardless of the courses they are taking.

“Most of Seevic’s entrants are studying for the IFS university college diploma in financial studies, while other teams were made up of business or economics students.

Mr Playford said: “The college would receive £2,000 if the team won the whole competition, and get £1,500 for second place.

“We’re not sure how those winnings might be spent, but I’m sure staff and students would have plenty of ideas if the boys did win.”