WEDNESDAY, February 13, marked a huge celebration for pupils undertaking the Brilliant Club Scholars programme at both Ysgol Bro Gwaun and Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi.

This date saw the finale of a fantastic opportunity for twelve pupils who have spent the last few months attending university style lectures, developing new skills and gaining an advanced subject knowledge by completing a taxing, yet rewarding STEM assignment, at a full key stage above their current working level.

Ysgol Bro Gwaun's Aled James, Daniel Cleary, Amelia Cox, Nancy Mason Hoskins, Xaria Davies and Huw Davies from year 9, as well Alonwy Roberts, Maddy Stott, Ben Tannahill, Libby Rands, Archie Howell and Toby Colley from year 10.

Under the guidance of a PhD tutor, Dr Allison Zwarycz, Ysgol Bro Gwaun pupils worked on a project titled The microbial Hunger Games – eat or be eaten. This was a study of two bacteria and their predatory interactions, namely Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus and Vibrio cholerae.

The pupils fully embraced the experience and achieved outstanding results, all gaining university style gradings on their final assignments. Alonwy and Nancy confidently presented their findings to the graduation audience at the end of the programme.

The Ysgol Pemrhyn Dewi students who took part were Rhian Goodson; Henry Raymond; Jasmine Morris; Lihla-Mae Noble; Dylan Gibbs; Ryan Quinn; Gracie Bland; Robyn Kovachev; Xanthe Horsley; Liah Bennett and Jorjia Murphy. They studied with Bridget Kerr, looking at Crime: What is the problem and what can we do?

This amazing opportunity began with a launch trip to Bristol University. Pupils made a positive start to an eight-week commitment which aims to provide insight and challenge, broadening their knowledge beyond the curriculum restrictions.

The task provides pupils with the opportunity to demonstrate confidence in their ability, aiding university applications in the future, by giving them a unique edge over other applicants.

The celebratory graduation trip to Oxford University saw the final stage of the programme where the impressive efforts of pupils gained full recognition with

"As a school, we are immensely proud of the attitude, determination, resilience and commitment shown by these pupils," said an Ysgol Bro Gwaun spokesman.