Summer school success for Jesus
A COLLABORATION between Jesus College, Oxford, and the Welsh Government’s Seren Network, through which 22 of Wales’ brightest pupils sampled life at Oxford University last summer, is to more than treble in size.
The partnership saw 22 Year 12 Seren Network students attend a bespoke five-day summer school – the first to be aimed solely at Seren students – at Jesus College in August 2017.
Sixteen of the 22 students, who are now in Year 13, went on apply to Oxford. The remaining seven applied to other top universities, including Cambridge.
Jesus College and Seren are now increasing their support for the initiative, enabling the fiveday, fully-funded summer school to increase in size for the August intake to 75 students.
Students from each of the 11 Seren hubs will be given the opportunity to apply for the summer school, at which they will explore the city, sample student life and attend lectures, seminars and tutorials on the theme of “The Meaning of Life”.
Education Secretary Kirsty Williams said: “Summer schools at any university are excellent vehicles for breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes that might prevent students from reaching their academic potential.
“Initiatives such as this, alongside Seren’s year-round calendar of support, are helping pupils understand that educational excellence is well within their reach, regardless of their choice of academic institution.”
Dr Matt Williams, Jesus College’s Access Fellow and the summer school organiser, said: “We were blown away by the enthusiasm of our 22 summer school participants in 2017. With help and support from our college alumni and the Welsh Government, I am thrilled that we will be expanding the summer school up to 75, with a further 11 teachers invited from each of the hubs.”