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| What am I bid for a week's work at Coutts? - the Westminster school auction | What am I bid for a week's work at Coutts? - the Westminster school auction |
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| Persuading wealthy supporters to stump up thousands of pounds to secure their kids internships at City firms got the Tories into hot water at a party fundraiser a couple of years ago. But despite reports suggesting that David Cameron would ban this type of prize, it seems that private schools still have a taste for it. | Persuading wealthy supporters to stump up thousands of pounds to secure their kids internships at City firms got the Tories into hot water at a party fundraiser a couple of years ago. But despite reports suggesting that David Cameron would ban this type of prize, it seems that private schools still have a taste for it. |
| Westminster school, whose former alumni include Nick Clegg and Helena Bonham Carter, is offering open bids on internships at a range of companies in lucrative job sectors. Fancy a career in the law? A mini-pupillage with a criminal barrister can be Freddie's for offers over £650. Want to try working in (private) education? A cheque for anything over £550 could – as long as someone richer doesn't outbid you – get Tamsin an internship in Dubai with Holland Park Tuition and Education Consultants. Oscar's more on the creative side? Currently, offers of more than £202 will provide "a unique chance for a student interested in a career in finance to gain an inside look at the world of private equity". A week "behind the scenes at master jewellers Fabergé" is still a snip at £76, so with any luck you won't have to pawn the pearls. | Westminster school, whose former alumni include Nick Clegg and Helena Bonham Carter, is offering open bids on internships at a range of companies in lucrative job sectors. Fancy a career in the law? A mini-pupillage with a criminal barrister can be Freddie's for offers over £650. Want to try working in (private) education? A cheque for anything over £550 could – as long as someone richer doesn't outbid you – get Tamsin an internship in Dubai with Holland Park Tuition and Education Consultants. Oscar's more on the creative side? Currently, offers of more than £202 will provide "a unique chance for a student interested in a career in finance to gain an inside look at the world of private equity". A week "behind the scenes at master jewellers Fabergé" is still a snip at £76, so with any luck you won't have to pawn the pearls. |
| Of course lots of PTAs run auctions, but the kind of prize state school parents tend to offer isn't going to get you past security at Coutts (offers over £301, at the time of going to press). | Of course lots of PTAs run auctions, but the kind of prize state school parents tend to offer isn't going to get you past security at Coutts (offers over £301, at the time of going to press). |
| Nevertheless, state school auctions can still raise surprising sums. At Hollymount primary school in south-west London, mum Lucy Hatley says she was "weeping on the stage saying thank you to everyone" when the auction raised £14,000. The school used the money to rebuild a school playground that the council couldn't afford to pay for. There weren't any internships on offer – the closest thing to work experience was "being headmistress for a day" (£260 bid). A "home-cooked Indian meal for four" went for £45, as did a "personalised poem, written especially for you". | Nevertheless, state school auctions can still raise surprising sums. At Hollymount primary school in south-west London, mum Lucy Hatley says she was "weeping on the stage saying thank you to everyone" when the auction raised £14,000. The school used the money to rebuild a school playground that the council couldn't afford to pay for. There weren't any internships on offer – the closest thing to work experience was "being headmistress for a day" (£260 bid). A "home-cooked Indian meal for four" went for £45, as did a "personalised poem, written especially for you". |
| Mr Hatley, it turns out, will be servicing a family's bikes for the sum of £140. An hour and a half of bouncy-castle playtime went for £90. The highest bid was £1,600 for a week in a cottage in Brittany. Don't suppose anyone will get a foot on the career ladder or any juicy contacts from the Hollymount auction, but their prizes sound a lot more fun than paying top whack to spend a week traipsing round after a banker in your half-term holiday. | Mr Hatley, it turns out, will be servicing a family's bikes for the sum of £140. An hour and a half of bouncy-castle playtime went for £90. The highest bid was £1,600 for a week in a cottage in Brittany. Don't suppose anyone will get a foot on the career ladder or any juicy contacts from the Hollymount auction, but their prizes sound a lot more fun than paying top whack to spend a week traipsing round after a banker in your half-term holiday. |
| • This article was amended at 17:30 on May 14 2013 to remove Martin Amis from the list of former Westminster pupils. Amis's agent confirms he did not attend. | • This article was amended at 17:30 on May 14 2013 to remove Martin Amis from the list of former Westminster pupils. Amis's agent confirms he did not attend. |
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