The Seren Network: supporting Wales’ brightest young academics
In 2015, the Welsh Government introduced its latest educational initiative, the Seren Network: a web of regional hubs throughout Wales that aim to support the country’s brightest students in achieving their academic potential and helping them gain access to leading universities across the UK. The University of Cambridge has fully endorsed this scheme since its inception and the results are proving just how vital such outreach programmes are. Over the last two years alone, Cambridge has seen a fantastic 15% increase in applications from Welsh state school students.
Cambridge students are planning to return to schools across Wales as part of new initiatives to build on the ongoing success. This comes in the wake of Mrs Kirsty Williams’, Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Education, recent visit to Magdalene to celebrate the achievements of the Seren Network, set out plans for the future and to launch two new schemes: the Seren Support Group and the Seren Ambassadors’ Scheme. The visit was also a great opportunity for Mrs Williams to talk to and hear from current Cambridge undergraduates who received support from Seren.
Representatives from Admissions and Outreach Departments across the University met Mrs Williams to discuss the future development of the Seren programme and to outline how Cambridge can continue to expand on its Outreach work across Wales.
The Master of Magdalene, Dr Rowan Williams (himself, of course, a Welshman), hosted a reception in Magdalene’s Cripps Court, where he addressed Welsh students and University Outreach representatives. This was followed by presentations on the impact of our Outreach activities from Mrs Kirsty Williams and the Magdalene Schools Liaison Officer, Mr Sandy Mill, whom Mrs Williams personally thanked for all his hard work in making Cambridge more accessible and welcoming to students from across Wales.
This event celebrated the considerable success that Cambridge has achieved through its work with the Seren Network thus far, as well as laying down plans for future engagement and officially unveiling the Seren Support Group and the Seren Ambassadors Scheme.
The Seren Support Group and Ambassadors’ Scheme are run by Churchill, Magdalene and Trinity Colleges alongside the Department of Education at Cambridge. Magdalene works with four Seren hubs in North and West Wales and Churchill with seven hubs in South and East Wales, as part of the University’s Area Links Scheme. Trinity has provided some start-up funding.
Outreach activities offered by Churchill and Magdalene include sessions about the Cambridge admissions system, refining personal statements and preparation for interview and admissions assessments. Additionally, Seren students are able to participate in residential visits and masterclasses in Cambridge, as well as the Sutton Trust Summer Schools.
During her visit, Mrs Kirsty Williams emphasised her commitment to collaborate with Key Stage 3 and 4 students in order to expand on the Seren Network’s brilliant achievements and Magdalene and Churchill Colleges pledged their support to the scheme as it grows and develops.
Mr Sandy Mill, Magdalene College Schools Liaision Officer said:
“Working with the Seren Network has offered us the valuable opportunity to reach Welsh students much more effectively, helping to raise the aspirations of Welsh students and giving them the information and guidance they need to ensure that they are able to make competitive applications to top universities around the country, including Cambridge.
We are thrilled to be able to work in collaboration with the Welsh Government to help Welsh students realise their potential and show them that universities like Cambridge are well within their considerable talent and ability. We look forward to continuing to work with the Seren Network as it expands and we are excited to be a part of the development of a project that is showing so much promise and initial success at widening access to high-tariff universities for Welsh students.”
Stephen, a first-year Geography student who attended the Seren Network event, said:
“There was a great sense that things are moving in the right direction, with the Seren model leading the way in raising the aspirations and academic standards of Wales' brightest young people.
Having benefited tremendously from Seren when applying to Cambridge, the event was really useful in being able to deliver fresh feedback on my experience.
Extending Seren into KS3/4 is critical in normalising the fact that Oxbridge is not a far-fetched dream but something very achievable.
Seren has delivered already in terms of raising the percentage of offers to Welsh students, however, the next step is definitely more important in encouraging more critical thinkers to express themselves at a younger age.”