DEFENDING champions Framwellgate School have shot to the top of the league in the race to be crowned the business brains of the future.

Young entrepreneurs from 12 schools are battling it out in the Future Business Magnates competition - a series of challenges spread over nine months in which children and teachers work with mentors from the world of business to develop their commercial ideas.

The results of Challenge Two - which asked teams to outline what their business was going to be - were revealed yesterday and Framwellgate School and Easington both scored 122 points.

But with Framwellgate playing their joker, giving them double points for the round, the team has rocketed to the top of the table ahead of Roseberry Sports and Community College in second place and 2007 winners Belmont School in third.

Competition co-ordinator John Tindale said: "The judge for this challenge, Durham City Council's executive director David Marrs, was extremely impressed with the effort, knowledge and overall quality of the challenge submissions, as well as being overwhelmed with the diverse range of business ideas put before him."

Closest challengers Roseberry Sports and Community College, making only their second appearance in the Future Business Magnates competition, are leading the chasing pack and, with their joker still in hand, have time to overhaul the runaway leaders.

The Roseberry team have named their business Planet Props, which will design and make theatrical props with the help of mentor Graham Elder, senior businessmanager for NatWest bank.

Teacher Marie Summerley said: "The pupils are very excited about the whole competition.

"Initially they were overwhelmed by the amount of input needed but, having chosen their business idea, submitted their first written report and received the result, they are enthusiastic about the next challenge and are already well into it.

"The pupils are finding it an exciting and interesting way of learning -one which is very different from normal lessons in the classroom."

The competition, now in its fourth year, was initially open to schools in Durham City and Chester-le-Street, but this year's competition also features two schools from Easington and one guest competitor from Northern Ireland, Bangor Academy.

The next challenge will assess the location of the schools' future businesses, with the overall winner to be declared after a gruelling presentation to be held in Durham City in July.

League table after Challenge Two

1.Framwellgate School Durham - 342
2.Roseberry Sports & Community College - 223
3.Belmont School Community Arts College - 221
4.Park View Community School - 220
5.Hermitage School - 219
6.Durham Johnston - 217
7.St Leonard's RC - 217
8.Durham Federation - 212
9.Seaham School of Technology - 209
10. Easington Community Science College - 208
11. Bangor Academy & Community College - 203
12. Durham High School for Girls - 185 .Joker has been played