Network ensuring more can aspire to Oxbridge education
More children in parts of Wales are applying to Oxbridge since the launch of an initiative – The Seren Network – which aims to support our brightest students into leading universities...
OXBRIDGE applications and offers of places to pupils from mainstream schools have risen in parts of Wales since the start of a programme to get more into top universities.
The news comes as what is believed to be the first ever Oxford University summer school aimed solely at high-achieving students from Wales was announced this week.
A summer school for Welsh sixthformers at Jesus College in August is part of a new partnership between Oxford University and Wales’ brightest students.
The Seren Network has released figures from three of its 11 hubs showing that since the Welsh Government initiative to support students into leading universities was launched in 2015 Oxbridge applications and offers have risen in some places.
A survey released as around 800 pupils gathered for a Seren conference this week also shows 95% of Seren Network students have applied, or expect to apply, for a Russell Group university.
The Flintshire/Wrexham hub reported that of its 103 students 35 applied for a place at Oxford or Cambridge next September, 26 of whom – 74% – had interviews, eight of which secured offers.
One of the schools represented in the hub, Alun School in Mold, said it had a school record of six pupils getting Oxbridge interviews, two of whom have offers.
In Seren’s Swansea-Neath Port Talbot hub, which has 306 students, 30 pupils from Gower College alone applied to Oxbridge this year.
“Qualitative research suggests an increase in both applications and offers from Oxbridge across the Swansea region,” a spokeswoman said.
Of the 120 sixth-formers in the Rhondda Cynon Taf/Merthyr hub, 14 applied to Oxford of which four have offers. Six also applied to Cambridge.
A massive 70% of that hub’s Oxbridge applicants made the interview stage compared to the Oxford average of 56% and all applicants to Cambridge made interview stage. Several schools that don’t routinely field Oxbridge applicants did so, but chose not to be named.
There was also one application to one of the world’s best universities, Yale, which led to an unconditional offer for Hawthorn High School pupil Morgan Cronin to start studying there after A-levels this summer.
A year 13 student from Hawarden High School in the Flintshire/Wrexham hub has also accepted a place at Harvard University.
A Seren spokeswoman said: “Applications have gone up from parts of Wales since Seren was launched. Early indicators from hubs show an increase in applications and offers.”
All those involved began Seren activities at the start of the 2015/16 academic year but the full impact of the scheme won’t be clear until the 2018/19 academic year at the earliest when students across Wales will have received advice, support and guidance through two full academic years, a Welsh Government spokesman said.
Announcing the collaboration between Jesus College Oxford and the Seren Network, the Welsh Government said it will enable Wales’ brightest sixth-formers to experience life at one of the world’s best universities.
Students from each of the 11 Seren Network hubs across Wales will be able to apply for the four-day summer school, where they will sample student life and attend lectures on demography, artificial intelligence, climate, trade, politics and literature.
The partnership was announced by the Welsh Government Minister for Lifelong Learning and the Welsh Language, Alun Davies, at the Seren Network conference on Wednesday.
Around 800 sixth formers from across Wales will attended the conference in Newtown which included representatives from the UK’s top 30 universities.
Students took part in masterclasses and workshops led by leading academics from universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Kings College London, Imperial College London and Bath.
More than 2,000 students are now in the Seren Network which was set up in 2015 to address the decline in the number of Welsh students applying to top universities.
Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt, principal of Jesus College, Oxford, said: “Jesus College is incredibly proud of its enduring connection to Wales, a connection that goes back to the college’s foundation in 1571. This new initiative will help ensure that we continue to welcome future generations of talented Welsh students here in Oxford.”
Mr Alun Davies AM said: “Raising the aspirations and attainment levels of Welsh school pupils to help them reach their academic potential is an ongoing priority for Welsh Government, and the Seren Network is playing a pivotal role in this ambition.
“The announcement adds another tangible benefit for students.
“By enabling Wales’ most academically gifted pupils to sample life at one of the world’s best academic institutions, we are demonstrating that educational excellence is well within their reach, and equipping them with hands-on support and guidance to make sure they reach the top.”