Stockmarket gamble pays off for students (From Penarth Times)

Stockmarket gamble pays off for students

8:00am Tuesday 15th September 2009

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A TRIO of budding stockbrokers from a Penarth school have won a prestigious investment competition.

Westbourne pupils James Bird, Ben Latham and Anna Protheroe were chosen to take part in Shares4Schools, a national investment contest run by retail stockbroker The Share Centre.

The group, with the help of teacher Neil McFarlane, turned their initial investment of £1,500 at the start of October 2008 into a 51 per cent profit in just eight months – leaving them with £2,264.47 when the competition closed.

That meant the Westbourne youngsters beat teams from nine other schools to win the South West regional – and finish third in the overall UK standings.

Anna Protheroe said: “We are thrilled to have beaten all the other schools in the South West.

“When we started the competition, most of the team had no idea how the stock market worked, but using real money motivated us to invest it wisely.

"Our investment strategy was based on a foundation of larger, well known companies that offered solid growth.

"We also dabbled in smaller, riskier shares to try and make a quick profit," she added.

“Taking part in Shares4Schools was great fun and it has helped me to realise that I would like to work in the financial services industry one day.”

Gavin Oldham, chief executive of The Share Centre, said students who participated in this year’s competition had faced some of the toughest trading conditions since Shares4Schools started in 2003.

“Despite this, Westbourne School rose to the challenge to achieve an amazing capital gain,” he said.

“I am sure the students will take this knowledge forward and capitalise on it in whatever career they choose.”

Westbourne School, along with the competition’s national and three other regional winners, recently attended the official winner’s day celebrations at County Hall, Westminster.

The day included a speech from special guest Dame Clara Furse, the London Stock Exchange’s last chief executive, as well as a question and answer session with The Share Centre’s Advice team.

Students were then treated to a trip on the London Eye.

*Registrations for the 2009/10 competition are now being accepted via the website www.shares4schools.org (deadline: September 25).

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