The 2024 cohort of Platform+ students graduated in September, having completed the nine-month programme of lessons, talks, visits and enrichment designed to fuel their passion for learning and broaden their future educational horizons.

The 15- and 16-year-olds from 15 maintained schools across London, received their certificates from Head Master Dr Gary Savage and Director of Platform Solly Hardwick, at a ceremony in Westminster School, watched by their families and Platform peers.

The event was the culmination of a packed schedule across 2024, which saw regular weekend lessons in STEM and the liberal arts as well as a programme of complementary activities, including workshops from professional writers in fiction, poetry and science journalism, visits to the National Theatre, a session from a Nobel prize winning scientist, and a guided tour of the V&A, led by its director and Westminster governor Dr Tristram Hunt.

There was also a new creative writing competition, The Spark Awards, specially run alongside Platform+ by WriteSpace and the Kartik Foundation, which saw entries in genres of prose, drama, poetry and non-fiction.

Dr Ankhi Mukherjee, Professor of English and World Literatures at the University of Oxford, judged the submissions and gave out the prizes, with all entries also published in an anthology.

Speaking to the young students at the ceremony, stage and screen writer, Juliet Gilkes Romero, encouraged each of them to find their ‘north star’ to guide them through difficult life and adverse circumstances.

The students, who will now start thinking about where to apply to sixth form – including to Westminster – reflected on their Platform experiences.

Barbara said: “There are many outreach programmes, but Platform is not only a programme – it’s a community, it’s a hobby, it’s a passion, it’s a place where we can relax and be ourselves. I never thought I would have the opportunity to go next to Westminster Abbey every Saturday to learn history, Russian, English, modern foreign languages, chemistry, biology, physics and electronics. I loved being in an environment where you are intellectually stimulated and you understand why everything happens rather than what they are as facts.

“Thank you for coordinating such a wonderful experience for all of us, many places say you will have life-long friendships when they do not mean it, but for Westminster this is not the case. I met some of my best friends here and every single Platform+ pupil is so unique, I was so lucky to work alongside them.

“I am just so thankful to everyone who made this possible, you have no idea how much this past year at Westminster means to me and every Platform pupil. You gave us a vision for our future and so much hope.”

Another student added: “I just felt like this whole experience was a huge privilege. Meeting passionate teachers to high-spirited peers really allowed me to picture what a thriving environment looks like. Through all the practicals and trips, I had shared a laugh in each and every single one of them and I could not be any more grateful for this experience. Thank you and I highly commend you all for giving us this experience and who knows maybe next year you’ll see me!”

Solly Hardwick, Westminster School’s Director of Platform and Widening Access, said: “After such a busy year it was fantastic to come to this graduation and to hear what nine months of Platform has meant to so many of them. I pay tribute to them all, as well as to all my colleagues who give up so much time to make this happen. These students have been a core part of the Westminster community and will be sorely missed!

“I can’t wait to see where these talented young people go next — and I look forward to observing the exciting journeys they will all undertake next year.”

Westminster Platform

Westminster Platform is designed as an academic enrichment programme for gifted and talented young people from London’s state school sector. Through the three Platform programmes, we aim to nourish pupils’ academic potential and grow their confidence at different stages of their school life.

In 2018, Westminster School launched Platform, a programme set up to fuel the ambitions of boys and girls in Year 5 from the state school sector who show academic potential. Since then, the school has developed its initiative for widening access, with the 2020 introduction of Platform+ for pupils in Year 10 and the recent launch of Platform Pups in 2022, for pupils in Year 2.

westminsterplatform.org.uk