Competition rules

Shares4Schools is a real money investment competition in which Year 12 students invest £2,000 in the stock market.

  • The 2019/20 competition was due to take place between 4th November 2019 and 19th June 2020, but was cancelled on 27/03/20 due to the disruption caused to financial markets and schools by the coronavirus pandemic.
  • The 2020/21 competition is due to take place between 2nd November 2020 and 18th June 2021

Aim of the competition

1. Each team will start with £2,000 to invest. Schools should raise the initial £1,000 themselves and The Share Centre will then match fund this to bring the total up to £2,000 (matched funding will be available for one team per school).

2. During the period of the competition, teams should invest their £2,000 into shares of their choice.

3. While the team does not have to invest all £2,000 in one go, it does need to invest at least £500 by the end of December.

4. The team must make a minimum of ten trades (either sales or purchases) during the period of the competition.

5. By the competition closing date, the team with the highest value portfolio shown on the league table will be the overall winner (subject to compliance with Rules 3 and 4).

Eligibility and team numbers

6. Shares4Schools is open to students who will be in Year 12 (Secondary 5 in Scotland) during the academic year the competition takes place. Given that the competition runs through final exam season we do not consider it suitable for students in Years 11 or 13.

7. It is up to the school to decide on how many students take part in the competition. It is worth considering that the more students involved, the more difficult it could be to make decisions. As a guide, a good number for a team is between four and 10 members.

Entering the competition

8. Entry will be in the name of the school, for whom a dealing account will be established with The Share Centre.

9. Any payments into, and withdrawals from, the dealing account must be made using a bank account in the name of the school (or an educational trust or similar body linked to the school). Payments must not be made to or from an individual.

During the competition

10. Two authorised representatives of the school must be appointed to administer actual investments, acting to carry out the team’s investment decisions and as custodians of the school’s funds. The representatives must be employees of the school and aged over 18.

11. We cannot confirm any account information to anyone other than employees of the school.

12. The team may buy or sell shares at any point during the competition.

13. The Share Centre will not charge any account or dealing fees to teams participating in Shares4Schools.

14. PERMITTED INVESTMENTS:

  • UK equities
  • Investment Trusts
  • Exchange Traded Funds – provided they are listed on the London Stock Exchange
  • Equities listed on the major European and Canadian markets 

NOT PERMITTED:

  • Unit Trusts
  • Open Ended Investment Companies
  • Exchange Traded Commodities
  • Covered Warrants
  • Gilts
  • Bonds
  • Complex investments requiring an appropriateness-test
  • US shares (for tax reasons)
  • Other categories outside our permitted investments.

Competition end

15. The winning places will be based on the value of the portfolio when the market closes on the closing date (including any investments held and/or the cash balance) – subject to compliance with Rules 3 and 4.

16. The Share Centre will endeavour to sell down any remaining investments from the account immediately after the closing date. Please note that any investments held after the closing date may continue to rise or fall in value.

17a. After the closing date The Share Centre will claim back the matched funding of £1,000, regardless of whether teams have made a profit or a loss. In the event that a school in the competition makes a loss exceeding £1,000, The Share Centre will bear the cost of this (see exception to this rule in 17b).

EXAMPLES:

  • Balance £2,200. Share Centre reclaims £1,000, school retains £1,200
  • Balance £1,500. Share Centre reclaims £1,000, school retains £500
  • Balance £900: Share Centre reclaims £900, school retains £0 (the school would not owe The Share Centre money)

17b. If a team makes a loss exceeding £1,000 and the school has another team participating in the competition, The Share Centre reserves the right to reclaim funding from the other team if there is sufficient balance in the account.

EXAMPLE:

Team A – balance £900, Team B – balance £2,100 
The Share Centre reclaims £900 from the balance of Team A and £100 from the balance of Team B.

18. After The Share Centre has reclaimed its matched funding and the investments have been sold down, the school may request to withdraw the final value of their account to use at their sole discretion, or leave funds on account for entering next year’s competition. Please note that there may be a delay in calculating the final balance or withdrawing funds if the school holds any investments that have become illiquid (for example, a company has de-listed from the stock market).

Winners Day

19. Travel and hotel accommodation will be paid for at the discretion of The Share Centre for members of the national winning team. The Share Centre may not be able to reimburse any overseas travel costs.

20. The regional winning teams will have travel paid to the event for a maximum of 6 members of the team (to include staff and teachers).

21. The regional winning teams that wish to stay overnight will do so at their own expense.

General

22. All entrants agree to take part in relevant PR activity as and when required.

23. Prizes, as described from time to time will be awarded and are not transferable and no alternative will be offered.

24. The decision of The Share Centre shall, in all matters, be final and no correspondence shall be entered into.

25. All entrants are deemed to have read and agreed to be bound by these rules.

26. All entrants are deemed to have read and agreed to The Share Centre’s Terms of Buisness