IN A CLASS OF HIS OWN
Student homeschooled on Bardsey by parents gains top degree and two national awards
AGIFTED young man has been awarded a first class degree and given two national awards – after being homeschooled by his parents on Bardsey Island.
Ben Porter moved with his family to the remote island off the Llŷn Peninsula in 2007 when he was 11 years old.
He lived on the farm with his parents Steve and Joanna and sister Rachel, and during the long winter months the only other people on the island were the two wardens.
But island life obviously suited Ben, because as well as gaining a first class honours degree in Conservation Biology from Exeter University, he was also awarded the Dean’s Commendation for Exceptional Performance, Royal Society of Biology’s Top Student Award and the award for the highest overall grade in biosciences.
His proud father Steve said: “When we saw the advert for tenants to farm on Enlli (Bardsey), I was more cautious than my wife and two kids who just wanted me to sign on the dotted line. I was concerned about their schooling and them missing their primary school friends.
“But we’ve never had any regrets.”
Their school friends were invited over to the island to stay, and Jo and Steve split the home schooling between them.
“I taught maths and astronomy GCSE, and Jo did the rest,” said Steve, a former outdoor instructor originally from the Conwy Valley.
Steve even erected his own observatory dome to house a telescope, so both he and Ben could observe and photograph the night sky.
The family received some support from the local education authority, and there was a number the family could call if they needed help from a tutor.
“We did wonder at first what we had let ourselves in for, but things have worked out pretty well and our daughter got 100% in her art ‘A’ level,” said Steve.
The family’s life on the island is coming to an end in September.
Steve and Jo have bought a property in Rhiw, on the Llŷn.
He says he’s looking forward to being able to wander around the mountains again, and will not miss the long winter months stuck on the island.
But he will still tend to his bees on Bardsey, and Jo will continue to monitor the abundant wildlife.
Their son was given an impromptu island graduation ‘ceremony’ a few nights ago, with Jo adjusting Ben’s willow mortar board decorated with seaweed. He wore a felted robe made from island wool and various summer-visiting friends attended.
The 22-year-old has become a gifted wildlife photographer, with his work appearing in many prestigious publications. Recently he led an expedition to Svalbard. The aim of the 12-day voyage to the icy waters was to collect data on non-visible pollutants in the Arctic ocean, such as microplastics and humanmade background noise, to increase public awareness.
His father admitted Ben has been shaped by his unique island upbringing.