Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg
At the end of 2025, the Seren Academy celebrated 10 years of opening doors for Wales’s brightest learners, helping them to recognise their potential, build confidence, and pursue ambitious futures.
Across Wales, Seren has grown into a learner-centred programme that champions aspiration, nurtures excellence and creates meaningful opportunities that change lives. Now with a £2.5 million annual investment, Seren delivers a tailored, evidence-based offer that supports around 24,000 learners each year, from Year 8 though to Year 13, unique among UK nations, providing opportunities to such learners regardless of where they live or their background.
Ambition without barriers
One of the most powerful aspects of Seren is the diversity of learners it supports. We continue to be inspired by learners who are the first in their family to consider higher education just like Seren graduate Louisa who, with Seren support, in particular the residentials that she describes as a “turning point” for her, she was able to realise her childhood ambition of studying medicine at Cardiff University.
Learners constantly tell us that Seren is transformational. Across Wales, they describe how the programme has helped them to build the confidence, develop resilience, and feel part of a supportive community of like-minded peers.
Seren has been described as the point where ambition becomes achievable, where learners move from uncertainty to informed decision-making about their futures. Beyond academic challenge, mentoring and enrichment, Seren has helped build self-belief, resilience and a strong sense of belonging learners need to set ambitious goals and work towards them. Seren graduate Joel found the support Seren provided him invaluable as he was inspired to and supported to apply to Oxford University. Many learners have told us that the support with personal statements, admissions tests and interviews, alongside the chance to speak directly with academics and current students, has given them the confidence to apply.
Strong partnerships, wider impact
Partnership working sits at the heart of Seren’s success. By collaborating closely with universities in Wales, across the UK and internationally, Seren has developed a strong understanding of what is required for the most competitive courses, qualities that extend well beyond academic attainment.
Our partners consistently emphasise the value of Seren as a clear, national voice for Wales’s brightest learners. Seren provides a trusted route for universities and organisations to engage with learners, deliver tailored guidance, and offer opportunities that reflect their expertise.
Recently, officials have met with representatives from every university in Wales to ensure the Seren offer fully reflects the breadth and quality of opportunities available here, including studying through the medium of Welsh. New initiatives, such as Year 10 Seren Discovery Days taking place this summer, will help learners explore these options early and with confidence.
Looking ahead
We are now entering a new chapter for Seren. The programme continues to evolve in response to what learners, teachers and partners tell us works best. An improved delivery model has been introduced to strengthen consistency and accessibility across Wales, while new pathways, including routes into degree apprenticeships are being explored to ensure excellence can be pursued through different but equally ambitious routes.
Seren’s mission remains clear: to dismantle barriers, broaden horizons, and inspire ambition among Wales’s future leaders, innovators, and problem solvers. Building on a strong decade of success, Seren will continue to be inclusive, ambitious and responsive, opening doors, nurturing talent and supporting the next generation of Seren learners to shine.
Further information on the Seren programme can be found at Seren – Hwb