£3 million to support Wales’ brightest and most talented pupils

Wales’ brightest and most talented pupils are set to benefit from £3 million of support over two years.

In a statement to the National Assembly, the cabinet secretary will set out three key principles to drive improvements.

These include better identification and support at school, regional and national levels; opportunities that will inspire the highest levels of achievement; and the development of evidence to support further investment and work.

The funding will support a new national approach for identifying and supporting more able learners, backed with comprehensive new guidance. This will include a new definition for more able learners, supporting schools in this work.

The cabinet secretary also announced that the successful Seren Network, which supports Wales’ brightest sixth formers gain access to leading universities, will be expanded to target younger learners.

From September, the Network will begin targeting learners before their GCSEs - connecting learners from different schools and communities and building on Seren’s existing links with leading global universities.

The £3 million investment will also include funding to further develop the Welsh Government’s policy for more able and talented learners, ensuring that any future measures are based on the most reliable evidence.