The beginning of May marked a huge celebration for pupils undertaking the Brilliant Club Scholars programme at Ysgol Bro Gwaun. Twelve year nine and ten pupils undertook the challenging task of attending university style lectures, developing new skills and completing taxing, yet rewarding STEM assignments, at a full key stage above their current working level.

Suffice to say that Neeve Hallett, Rowan Hathaway Henderson, Joss Lerwill, Zoe LaTrobe, Ella Merritt, Tomos Davies, Meirion John, Elen Maycock, Ceri Watts, Ashyen Mujica, Matt Thomas and Iago Evans fully embraced the experience, concluding with them achieving outstanding results.

This amazing opportunity began with a launch trip to Cardiff University. The day was highly successful, with initial introductions made to university lecturers and mentors, working alongside student ambassadors, touring the extraordinary Cardiff campus and being inspired with course information and university life. Pupils made a positive start to an eight-week commitment which aimed to provide insight and challenge, broadening their knowledge beyond the curriculum restrictions.

The task provided pupils with an opportunity to demonstrate confidence in their ability, aiding university applications of the future, by giving them a unique edge over other applicants. During the launch, pupil learnt the research and referencing skills that will be crucial for higher education. They also attended their first highly topical tutorial based upon powering the planet on biomass.

The Scholars Programme recruits PhD researchers, trains them as university access professionals and places them as tutors in schools to deliver programmes of university style tutorials to small groups of high potential pupils. Pupils study academic subjects based on their PhD tutor’s research, completing weekly homework assignments and a final written assignment. 

At Ysgol Bro Gwaun, we were very fortunate to have worked alongside Dr Stephen Chapman from Aberystwyth University. Under his careful guidance, Ysgol Bro Gwaun pupils achieved a staggering ten first class, and two upper second class university grading’s on their final assignments.

The celebratory graduation trip to Bristol University saw the final stage of the programme where the impressive efforts of pupils gained full recognition. This event was well attended by supportive parents, guardians, county representatives and school staff. As a school, we are immensely proud of the attitude, determination, resilience and commitment shown by our pupils and thank Pembrokeshire County Council for the opportunity given through this inspiring project.