Llandarcy Academy of Sport Welcomes Wales’ Brightest

Over 200 of the brightest students from across Neath Port Talbot, Powys and Bridgend gathered at Llandarcy Academy of Sport to attend the Annual Seren Hub Conference.

The conference welcomed the new cohort of high achieving Year 12s from colleges and sixth forms across the three counties in a day of workshops designed to challenge and inspire the students.

There were workshops from Swansea and Cardiff Universities covering Medicine, Astrophysics, Maths, Critical Thinking, Biology and Music.

The Seren Network is a Welsh Government initiative, with the Neath Port Talbot, Powys and Bridgend Hub launched by Education Minister Huw Lewis in January this year. The Hub works to support Wales’ brightest students achieve their academic potential and gain access to the UK’s leading universities, with the aim of increasing Welsh representation at the Russell Group and Sutton Trust 30 Group of universities.

There are now eleven established hubs across Wales with over 2,000 high achieving students. NPTC Group of Colleges was able to invite a record 28 students from the current Year 12 to be part of the prestigious network.

David Rees, AM for Aberavon and chair of the Assembly’s cross-party group on STEM, visited the event, taking the opportunity to talk to the students and discuss how he can take events like this and STEM subjects forward in the future.

David spoke with past Dŵr–y-Felin pupil, Lewis Mainwaring, who is a current A Level student studying Chemistry, Biology, History and Critical Thinking and hoping to study Dentistry at university. He is a current case study for Seren and said:

“Events like this really open your eyes to the opportunities that are available to Welsh students hoping to go onto top universities. You can gain valuable insight into courses you wouldn’t have necessarily chosen, get help with your application and additional preparation for university interviews.”

Kelly Fountain, Head of the Sixth Form Academy, was delighted at the success of the day and said:

“Seren is a great opportunity for students to be part of a network of like-minded people who share similar goals.  Through the hubs, we can offer students additional practical help and guidance they need when applying to top universities as well as many supercurricular activities.”

Pic Caption: Local AM David Rees with high flying students from Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend and Powys.