PUPILS at a York secondary school got the chance to run their own airline as part of an enterprise day.

About 32 students from Year 10 at Canon Lee School in Clifton took part in a day of activities based around them forming, budgeting and running their own flight operation.

Business studies teacher, Helen Davis said that the day was part of their studies for their GCSE in the subject, which has been running at the school since September.

Miss Davis said: "We had a number of representatives from local businesses including Portakabin, a retired bank manager and someone who runs an online business and Jill Tinsley from Young Enterprise.

"They worked in groups and were given a £200 million budget to set up and run an airline. They had to plan a destination route, buy the aircraft and everything setting up an airline would involve right down to designing a uniform for the cabin crew.

"They had to get all their costings right and work to a tight deadline so they students were under a real pressure."

At the end of the day-long event held in the school hall, prizes were given for the best presentation and the winners now go on to compete against other schools at an event in Leeds.

Miss Davis said: "The business people themselves were really complimentary about how well the students worked together, showing a variety of different skills and their time management."

Young Enterprise is the UK’s leading enterprise and financial education charity. If the Canon Lee students win the Leeds heat they get a flight to Heathrow for a tour round the airport organised by Young Enterprise.