He wouldn't fire any of them.

They have raised money for charity by using their entrepreneurial skills and have a chance of being named the Young Enterprise Business of the Year in June.

In the past 12 months the groups of 16 and 17-year-olds have set their business plans in motion ready for Wednesday when their companies are liquidated, their total profits are counted and they make a progress report to judges.

Myton's head of business studies Laura Merrett said: "Over the course of the year they have developed their confidence.

"They are so much closer as a team because they were just thrown together.

"They now know how to react to changes quite well and how to work to deadlines and think on their feet."

Mrs Merrett's class, who named their company Revolution, have made cash in two ways.

They produced 'top-trump' playing cards of members of staff and sold them to pupils.

And as part of a campaign to encourage people to buy free range eggs, they sold t-shirts for boys saying 'I fancy a free range chick' or for girls with the slogan 'I am a free range chick'.

Once a cut of the proceeds from these schemes is taken by shareholders, who are the pupils and their families, then the £400 remaining will be split between Warwick Hospital's children's ward and a Leamington free range chicken farm.

The Kingsley girls set up an events management company called Ce Soir. They organised an evening at the Pump Room in February which showcased young talented musicians in Warwickshire.

All profits from that event have funded their auction ball at the Hilton Hotel in Warwick on Saturday night. The group hopes to make thousands of pounds for Leukaemia Research after getting sponsorship from several companies and selling 200 tickets.

Kingsley's head of business and economics Catherine Benn said: "They have come together very well. They learnt about perseverance and the fact that making money isn't easy."

The regional result for the young enterprise competition will be announced on May 15.