The 2007-08 challenged hosted by the ifs School of Finance is intended to provide young people with the knowledge and ability to effectively manage their finances, while also offering a “practical insight” into stock market investment.

Rod McKee, head of financial capability at the school, said that the number of people taking part in the scheme demonstrated the “growing appeal” of business and finance education.

“It’s a particularly interesting time for students to be learning about investing in the stock market, with the FTSE 100 experiencing considerable turbulence as a result of the global credit crunch,” he remarked.

The ifs School of Finance is a registered charity that claims to offer financial education to both consumers and those working in the financial services sector.

The organisation also offers qualifications from GCSE to undergraduate level.

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