Target Two Point Zero

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Target Two Point Zero was an interest rate challenge for students in the UK set by the Bank of England and The Times. Students aged 16 to 18 were asked to analyse the economic outlook and recommend what interest rate should be set. The students made a 15-minute presentation and were judged by Bank of England staff, through three rounds with an ultimate winner being selected in a national final. The Bank of England announced that 2017 was the last year of the competition[ citation needed ].

Contents

The challenge

Target Two Point Zero invited students aged 16 to 18 to take on the role of the Monetary Policy Committee to analyse current economic conditions in the UK and the outlook for inflation. Teams of four students created a formal presentation that was delivered to a panel of judges from the Bank of England. The presentations were concluded with a recommendation on exactly what interest rate the team would set in order to achieve the UK government's inflation target of 2.0% CPI.

Following the initial presentation, which lasted a maximum of 15 minutes, the judges had the opportunity to ask questions about what had been said. They might have asked the students to justify or clarify certain aspects of their interpretation of the economic conditions.

Structure of the competition

The challenge had three identical rounds: regional heats, area finals and the national final. There was a sufficient time lapse between rounds to compel teams to change and update their presentation to take into account of new economic statistics, or the MPC’s own interest rate decisions.

Winners of the competition

No.YearWinning schoolRunner(s) UpOther Finalists
12001Harry Carlton Comprehensive School, Loughborough [1] The Perse School, CambridgeWimbledon High School, Wimbledon
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
St Patrick's Grammar School
Torquay Boys' Grammar School
22002Blackpool Sixth Form College [2] The Perse School, CambridgeWolverhampton Girls' High School, Wolverhampton
Eton College, Windsor
Highgate School, London
Nottingham High School for Girls, Nottingham
32003St Paul's School, Barnes [3] Eton College, WindsorThe Perse School, Cambridge
Churston Ferrers Grammar School, Brixham
The Beauchamp College, Leicester
The Blackpool Sixth Form College, Blackpool
42004Highgate School, London [4] The Grange School, NorthwichTorquay Boys' Grammar School & Torquay Grammar School for Girls
Brighton College

John Leggott Sixth Form College, Scunthorpe
The Perse School, Cambridge

52005Cranbrook School [5] The Cheltenham Ladies’ College, GloucestershireHighgate School, London
Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne
Wirral Grammar School for Boys, Merseyside
Verulam School, St Albans
62006Tonbridge School [6] Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Boys, Elstree, HertfordshireNottingham High School for Girls
Leeds Grammar School
The Blackpool Sixth Form College
Wilson’s School, Wallington
72007Leeds Grammar School [7] Haberdashers' Aske's School for Boys, Elstree, HertfordshireRoyal Grammar School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Peter Symonds' College, Winchester
Wilson's School, Wallington, Surrey
Bablake School, Coventry
82008The Tiffin Girls' School, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey [8] Loreto College, Coleraine, County LondonderryLeeds Grammar School
Peter Symonds College, Winchester
Tonbridge School, Kent
Wolverhampton Girls' High School
92009Peter Symonds College, Winchester [9] Nottingham High SchoolGeorge Watson’s College, Edinburgh
Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School, Elstree
Ilford County High School
King Edward VI Grammar School, Stratford-uponAvon
102010Dulwich College [10] Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon TyneNorth London Collegiate School, Edgware
King Edward's School, Birmingham
The Blue Coat School, Liverpool
Peter Symonds College, Winchester
112011The Sixth Form College Farnborough [11] Dame Allan's Schools, Newcastle Upon TyneHutchesons' Grammar School, Glasgow
King Edward's School, Birmingham
Stamford Endowed Schools
Merchant Taylors' School, London
122012St Paul’s School, Barnes [12] The Grammar School at LeedsQueen Mary’s Grammar School, Walsall
Brighton College
Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School, Elstree
Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh
132013The Grammar School at Leeds [13] St Paul’s School, Barnes
Tonbridge School		King Edward VI School, Southampton
Millfield School, Street
Robert Gordon’s College, Aberdeen
142014Oundle School [14] Bishop Wordsworth’s School, SalisburyIlford County High School
Central Newcastle High School
The Grammar School at Leeds
Watford Grammar School for Girls
152015The Perse School, Cambridge [15] Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet
Wolverhampton Girls’ High School		Pate’s Grammar School, Cheltenham
University College School, Hampstead
Stewart’s Melville College, Edinburgh
162016Pate’s Grammar School, Cheltenham [16] Loreto College, ColeraineSaffron Walden County High School
Magdalen College School, Oxford
The Tiffin Girls’ School, Kingston-upon-Thames
Kesteven & Grantham Girls’ School

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References

  1. ↑ "Target 2 Point 5 - Harry Carlton Comprehensive School Wins National Final". www.bankofengland.co.uk. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  2. ↑ "Target 2 Point 5 - The Blackpool Sixth Form College Wins National 'Challenge'". www.bankofengland.co.uk. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  3. ↑ "Target 2 Point 5 - Bank's Interest Rate Challenge Winner Announced Today". www.bankofengland.co.uk. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  4. ↑ "Target Two Point Zero - Interest Rate Challenge Winner Announced Today". www.bankofengland.co.uk. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  5. ↑ "Target Two Point Zero - Interest Rate Challenge Winner Announced Today". www.bankofengland.co.uk. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  6. ↑ "Target Two Point Zero - Interest Rate Challenge Winner Announced Today". www.bankofengland.co.uk. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  7. ↑ "Target Two Point Zero - Interest Rate Challenge Winner Announced". www.bankofengland.co.uk. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  8. ↑ "Target Two Point Zero - Interest Rate Challenge Winner Announced". www.bankofengland.co.uk. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  9. ↑ "Target Two Point Zero - Interest Rate Challenge Winner Announced". www.bankofengland.co.uk. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  10. ↑ "Target Two Point Zero - The Bank of England and The Times Interest Rate Challenge". www.bankofengland.co.uk. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  11. ↑ "Target Two Point Zero - Interest Rate Challenge winner announced today". www.bankofengland.co.uk. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  12. ↑ "Interest Rate Challenge winner announced today". www.bankofengland.co.uk. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  13. ↑ "Interest Rate Challenge winner announced today". www.bankofengland.co.uk. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  14. ↑ "Interest Rate Challenge winner announced today". www.bankofengland.co.uk. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  15. ↑ "Interest Rate Challenge winner announced today". www.bankofengland.co.uk. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  16. ↑ "Interest Rate Challenge winner announced today". www.bankofengland.co.uk. 2018-02-27. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
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