College link-up aims to raise expectations

The Clare Partnership for Schools is an initiative from Clare College and supported by firms such as KPMG, Clifford Chance, Morgan Stanley and Allen & Overy.

Started in 2001 it entails mentoring students, assisting them in applying for university places and offering bursaries.

It was Canary Wharf itself which originally led Clare to opt for east London.

Schools liaison officer at the college Will Knock said: "Every college in Cambridge has taken on an area.

"We looked at the alumni and found many of our key sponsors were based in Canary Wharf, meaning it was an ideal location."

Both Clifford Chance and KPMG were involved in the scheme from the beginning thanks to two key members of staff who got the ball rolling.

KPMG's head of corporate responsibility Mike Kelly said: "Clare College approached Tower Hamlets Council to look at raising aspirations for students in east London and increase university applications from these areas to Oxbridge.

"They then wondered how would they kick it off. They have a big alumni network and advertised it there.

"Our London senior partner Ian Barlow was part of that network, as was Clifford Chance's Michael Smyth, so they got together and realised what a good idea this was. From that, the original starting group was established."

Over the years the scheme has grown to involve more Wharf companies and a majority of schools in the area, including all in Tower Hamlets.

The Canary Wharf firms work together on giving lectures to support sixth formers in the application process and also invite students into their offices.

Clare College, meanwhile, invites sixth formers to a day at the university where they go through mock interviews.

KPMG's Mike said: "For the young people it raises their aspirations. It also tells them we are not just another skyscraper in Canary Wharf, we're a genuine office with genuine people inside and coming into this building takes away the mystique.

"It's not just the students who benefit but the parents, the brothers and sisters too."

KPMG takes on two bursaries a year to support sixth formers, keeping in touch throughout the undergraduates' Oxbridge stay.

Upper Bank Street law firm Clifford Chance also offers bursaries and has seen a dividend on its investment.

Last year the company employed its first graduate from the scheme, Anton Chambers from Poplar, as a trainee lawyer (see Case Study).

Clifford Chance's community affairs manager Cathy Jones said: "It's a scheme which we believe raises young people's aspirations.

"Some young people in the area are worried about leaving home and London or thinking it's not for them. This changes that.

"What do we get out of it? For us this supports one of our three corporate responsibility themes, which is helping provide access to education."

All those involved with the scheme say it is going from strength to strength despite the recession.

Clare's Will Knock does not have official figures but anecdotal evidence is promising.

He said: "While we haven't seen a large number of people applying to Clare we have a number trying to get into Oxford and Cambridge and that's the idea.

"It's not about encouraging students to apply for Clare, but it's about raising their aspirations of what they can achieve."

FACTFILE - Anton Chambers

Anton Chambers, 24, from Poplar is now a trainee lawyer at Wharf firm Clifford Chance.

He was at Tower Hamlets College when he first came into contact with the link-up with Clare College, Cambridge.

He said: "My first exposure to [the scheme] was when 30 of us went to Clare College for a day. We did mock interviews and took a tour of the college. As a result of that I decided to apply and fortunately got in.

"During my time there Clifford Chance monitored my progress. I was the first person who went to Clare as part of the partnership and Clifford Chance gave me a bursary of £1,000 each year, which was very useful.

"When the time came for work experience I contacted Clifford Chance and they said yes.

"I became employed here last August following a year at the College of Law.

"I always would have gone to university and certainly applied to Oxbridge but getting to see the place made up my mind I wanted to go to Clare.

"Unfortunately some sixth forms don't have as much access to the top universities as the better schools, but the aim of this project is to change that."