Lynne Neagle MS, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Vikki Howells MS, Minister for Further and Higher Education
Over the past ten years, the Seren Academy has transformed the lives of our brightest learners, enabling them to realise their potential. With an annual investment of £2.5 million, Seren offers a tailored, evidence-based programme that nurtures academic rigour, develops essential skills, and builds confidence. This programme supports around 24,000 learners each year across Wales, from Year 8 to Year 13, helping them realise their full potential. It is unique among UK nations, providing opportunities to such learners regardless of where they live or their background.
We recently held a ten year celebration for Seren where we heard from learners who were the first in their family to consider higher education, those from rural and geographically isolated communities, those who had come to Wales as refugees and those who are the few in their school or college to pursue highly competitive pathways including medicine, law, or admission to high tariff universities. We have also supported learners to pursue ambitious pathways through the medium of Welsh, enabling them to maintain their linguistic identity whilst accessing high-level academic opportunities.
Seren helps learners build confidence, develop resilience, and foster a strong sense of belonging, whilst providing practical guidance that enables them to make informed decisions about their future. Seren residentials have a particularly profound impact, often described as pivotal moments in learners’ educational journey, alongside practical, targeted support with personal statements, admissions tests, and interviews. These experiences, coupled with opportunities to interact directly with academics, admissions tutors, and current students, have enabled learners to make informed decisions about their next steps and to apply to university with confidence. Many have told us that, without this support, they would not have applied at all.
Our strong partnerships are fundamental to Seren’s achievements. By working closely with universities in Wales, across the UK, and globally, we have developed valuable insights into the qualities sought by admissions teams for the most competitive courses, qualities that extend well beyond academic attainment. This collaborative approach has allowed us to shape Seren’s programme, so it mirrors these expectations, ensuring our learners are prepared not only academically but holistically.
Seren provides a clear channel for communication, making it easier for universities and other partners to connect with learners and offer support. This has led to more effective collaboration, enabling partners to engage quickly, deliver tailored guidance, and identify opportunities that reflect their expertise and resources.
Recently, Officials met with representatives from every university in Wales to ensure the Seren offer fully embraces their academic opportunities, including studying through the medium of Welsh. Initiatives such as our new Year 10 Seren Discovery Days, due to take place this summer, are designed to help learners understand the breadth and quality of options available here in Wales. These developments ensure Seren continues to reflect the aspirations and opportunities of learners across the country.
We have introduced a new and improved delivery model to ensure consistency in the Seren offer and are exploring new pathways, including routes into degree apprenticeships, enabling Seren learners to pursue excellence through different but equally ambitious routes whilst gaining valuable workplace experience. The achievements of the past decade have laid a strong foundation for continued progress. Through ongoing collaboration with partners, educators, and learners themselves, Seren will remain inclusive, ambitious, and responsive to the needs of our brightest learners, continuing to open doors, nurture talent, and support the next generation to shine.