Two inspiring teens from Creigiau,

Cardiff, are among a selection of

youngsters in the county who have

been selected to join an exclusive net-

work aimed at helping Welsh youngs-

ters access leading UK universities.

Katie Thorpe and Bronte Murphy join

the first 16 and 17-year-olds in Wales

to be a part of the Welsh Government-

funded Seren Network, after they re-

ceived impressive results in their

GCSE exams in the summer.

Having known each other since they

were two years old, both plan to use

the support provided by Seren to ap-

ply for a place at their chosen universi-

ties.

Best friends Katie and Bronte join bright Cardiff students aiming for top universities through the Seren Network.

The Seren Network was set up with

the aim of assisting Wales’ brightest

students to fulfil their potential acade-

mically and apply to the UK’s leading

universities.

Launched by the Welsh Government

last year, it follows a report by Oxbridge Ambassador, Paul Murphy, former MP for

Torfaen and now Lord Murphy, who was appointed by the Welsh Government to exa-

mine the decline in Welsh applications and admissions to Oxford and Cambridge.

His report recommended that a national network of partnership hubs be set up to allow schools

and colleges to share expertise and work directly with the UK’s leading universities.

More than 150 pupils attended the launch of the latest Seren ‘hub’ covering Cardiff at the All Na-

tions Centre to learn more about the benefits of the network.

Radyr Comprehensive pupil Katie, 17, has always been interested in history, achieving 100% in

her GCSE papers and taking part in super-curricular activities to help her stand out from the

crowd.

“At the moment my goal is to study a degree in either medicine or history at either Oxford or

Cardiff University. These are important life changing decisions, so the help and guidance of

the Seren Network is very much appreciated.”

Fellow Radyr Comprehensive pupil and close friend Bronte, 17, achieved six A*s and six As in

her GCSEs and plans to pharmacy or medicine.

“I’ve always been interested in medicine because caring for and helping people is very impor-

tant to me, as my family are foster carers. My mum’s also a qualified nurse, so I’ve always had

a link to the medical world. The sciences have been my favourite subjects for a long time,

they’ve always just clicked and made sense to me. I would love to study pharmacy at Bath Uni-

versity, as it’s the best place for that subject, or medicine at Cardiff as their research is world-

class.”

“I’ve loved history ever since I was a little girl, and I was fortunate enough to be selected to visit

Auschwitz last month on an organised programme with the Lessons from Auschwitz Project to

ensure that people do not forget the Holocaust. I’m also interested in studying medicine, so I’ve

been attending the Medic Mentor workshops in Cardiff to gain an insight into the field.”

Katie, who achieved

eight A*s and four A

grades, says starting on

the Seren scheme has

boosted her confidence

and she hopes that the

workshops and events

organised by the net-

work will help bridge the

gap between sixth form

and university.

“I was a bit apprehensive about the academic jump between sixth form and university, as I know

that some students find it hard to adapt to a different, more challenging way of learning. But by

taking part in the Seren workshops with academics from some of the UK’s top universities I hope

that I can have a taste of university learning before I go, so I’ll know what to expect and how to

adapt when I get there.

Seren hubs for Merthyr/RCT, EAS (South East Wales Educational Achievement Service), Swan-

sea, and Wrexham and Flintshire were launched last year, with a hub for NPT/Bridgend/Powys

and Pembrokeshire/Carmarthenshire launched last month.

The Welsh Government is expected to announce additional hubs over the coming months with a

view to ensuring national coverage and that all schools and sixth form colleges have links to a

hub network by the start of the 2016/17 academic year.

For more information about the Seren Network, visit www.gov.wales/seren

Bronte added: “It’s great to be able to interact with people that have similar goals and interests

through the Seren Network. Oxbridge hadn’t really been mentioned up until I started sixth form,

and it’s refreshing to be in a group of people discussing the top universities and not having to feel

awkward about wanting to do well.

Seren activities are desig-

ned to stretch and challen-

ge the students beyond

the A-Level curriculum, giving them the chance to enhance their subject knowledge alongside a

Students will also have

access to reading lists,

and staff from leading

UK universities including

Oxford and Cambridge,

while receiving subject

support from teachers

and information and ad-

vice about university ap-

plications.