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A fantastic initiative between Westminster City School and nearby investment company, Polar Capital, is now underway, with students receiving laptops and hearing about the Polar Capital Aspire Scheme (PCAS) bursary.

Based just a few doors from our School’s Palace Street home, Polar Capital gifted each of our new Year 12 students a laptop when they joined our Sixth Form this autumn. Now representatives from Polar Capital have been visiting to talk to students about their generous Polar Capital Aspire Scheme (PCAS) bursary that supports future university study. 

In the first instance, the PCAS bursary will awarded to one or two of our current Year 12 students, who plan to start a three-year degree in 2023. Worth over £20,000 per year, for each year of UK university study, it covers tuition fees and provides a monthly stipend of up to £1,000 for living expenses. Although Polar Capital is based in the financial industry, applications are welcomed from students who may not thinking of future employment in finance, as well as from students who are. 

Our successful PCAS bursary students will be linked to two mentors at Polar Capital, who will meet with their student periodically, throughout their time at university. Mentors will provide further guidance on study and careers planning, including assistance in applying for work within a financial organisation (such as Polar Capital), if of interest to the student.

Further benefits for our successful PCAS bursary students include the travel costs to attend their first choice university open day, plus opportunities to join events at Polar Capital (like the company’s annual summer party) where they can network with other staff. If it is of interest to the student, there will also be a chance to enjoy a summer internship at Polar Capital and, upon graduation, the possibility to undertake a traineeship. 

Pictured, above, is Polar Capital’s Managing Director, Su Park, when speaking to our sixth formers. Before explaining more about the PCAS bursary, Su and her team talked about the work undertaken at Polar Capital, as the fund management company currently has 15 investment teams managing portfolios across multiple sectors and regions.

As well as attracting excitement and interest amongst our current Year 12, this outstanding suite of support also featured in First News, last Friday. The article from this popular children’s newspaper can be seen, below.

Peter Broughton, Headteacher at Westminster City School, said: “Polar Capital were very generous in their support of Westminster City School during the 2021 lockdown, providing over £70,000 to a fund that ensured all our young people had a laptop and internet access to support remote learning. We are really excited to work with Polar Capital again, on this new and exciting initiative that will help our current Year 12, and future students to our Sixth Form, on their academic journey.”

Gavin Rochussen, CEO at Polar Capital, added: “Polar Capital are delighted to be partnering with Westminster City School to launch the inaugural Polar Capital Aspire Scheme (PCAS) which supports Westminster City School students throughout their time at university.”