LATCHFORD MICROSOFT bosses will welcome year nine pupils who wowed judges by designing a mobile phone.

The pupils from Cardinal Newman Catholic High School had to research their competitors in the phone industry, come up with a name and create an idea for a multi-national company.

The Aim Higher challenge, at the University of Chester’s Padgate campus, saw the seven schools compete for the best design.

Students presented their ideas to business chiefs, including Jane Harrad-Roberts, managing director of marketing projects, CIM ambassador for education, Julie Fenelon and Arron Caldwell, training officer for M&S Money.

Pupils from the Bridgewater Avenue schools won along with Whitby High School and Ellesmere Port Catholic High School.

Gavin Segal, from Aim Higher Cheshire and Warrington, said: “Working to a tight schedule, all of the teams succeeded in producing convincing mobile phones, showing research and an understanding of their target markets.

“Picking the three winners was a difficult task for the judges, as the standards were so high, and the teams competing were a credit to the schools that they represented.”