Seren Network

The Seren Network is a set of eleven regional hubs in Wales to help sixth-formers in Welsh state schools to get into Russell Group universities. It was formed by the Welsh government in 2015 in response to a fall in Welsh students applying to Oxbridge[1][2]

Foundation

The network was formed by Education Secretary Huw Lewis based on a recommendation from a report by Lord Murphy in 2013.[3] The report suggested a set of regional hubs be set up to link schools to top universities.[4][5]

Activities

Initially, the network held a conference in 2015 for teachers to share information.[6] They then appealed for Welsh ambassador graduates from universities to talk at the network's events.[4] These included Ciaran Jenkins[7] and Chris Bryant.[8]

The network's hubs have arranged talks and workshops from universities' lecturers and access fellows to encourage Welsh university applications.[8] Nationally, conferences for Year 12 students have been held in Newtown, Powys in March 2017[1] and December 2017.[9]

Summer Schools

A square grass lawn surrounded on three sides by joined buildings; to the left and centre, three storeys with windows positioned to form a regular pattern, topped at roof level above each window by curved gablets; on the right, two bay windows (one large, one medium) project from the wall, with the same design of curved gablets.
The second quad of Jesus College

In 2017, the Seren network partnered with Jesus College, Oxford to provide a summer school for 22 Welsh year twelve students. It lasted for four days in August, with College Principal Nigel Shadbolt saying "This new initiative will help ensure that we continue to welcome future generations of talented Welsh students here in Oxford."[1] In 2018, this summer school was expanded to 75 students.[9][10]

A similar summer school was launched in 2018 with Yale University, to be funded jointly.[11]

Changes

In 2017, the Welsh government suggested that 95% of Seren network students were planning to apply to Russell Group universities.[12] Following the recommendations of another report,[11] Education Secretary Kirsty Williams announced that the Seren Network will expand to include younger students from September 2018.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hume, Colette (15 March 2017). "Oxford Uni taster for Welsh students". BBC News.
  2. ↑ Weale, Sally; Adams, Richard; Bengtsson, Helena (19 October 2017). "Oxbridge becoming less diverse as richest gain 80% of offers". the Guardian. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  3. ↑ Leonard, Kevin (18 April 2013). "Teachers 'lack Oxbridge ambition'". BBC News. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  4. 1 2 Feeney, Jack (17 March 2016). "Call for ambassadors to help shape the future of Wales' brightest students". walesonline. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  5. ↑ "Hubs to get more pupils to Oxbridge". BBC News. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  6. ↑ "The Seren Network Annual Conference". Business News Wales. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  7. ↑ Feeney, Jack (30 March 2016). "Channel 4 reporter urges Welsh students to fulfil their potential". walesonline. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  8. 1 2 Wells, Ione (29 October 2017). "Welsh students 'lack Oxbridge confidence'". BBC News. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  9. 1 2 "Bid to get more students into Oxbridge". BBC News. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  10. ↑ Heno [Tonight] (in Welsh). BBC/S4C. 23 August 2018. 36 minutes in. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  11. 1 2 "Seren Network unveils 'life-changing' scholarship with Yale University, as independent report finds project is 'adding value' and 'plugging gaps' - Government World Magazine". Government World Magazine. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  12. ↑ "Welsh student numbers drop at top unis". BBC News. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  13. ↑ Lewis, Bethan (27 February 2018). "More help for talented pupils pledged". BBC News. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
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