��ֱ�� hosts graduation ceremony for Children’s University at Pontio

Young learners from Gwynedd and Anglesey will gather at Pontio, Bangor after successfully completing a range of extracurricular learning activities and experiences as part of the Children’s University initiative.

Young learners from Gwynedd and Anglesey will gather at Pontio, Bangor for a special graduation ceremony on Thursday 29 February after successfully completing a range of extracurricular learning activities and experiences as part of the Children’s University initiative.

The inspirational Children’s University scheme celebrates participation in learning activities and opportunities outside school hours by encouraging children and young people to try new learning experiences, in a bid to nurture a lifelong love of learning and raise their aspirations. Pupils from 39 schools across North Wales will graduate from the scheme at four ceremonies where they will be celebrated for their achievements in front of their classmates, family and teachers.

As part of the Bangor event, there will be special entertainment and activities, including a performance by Ysgol Bro Lleu with Colin Daimond of Bloco Swn drums, one of the scheme’s Learning Destinations, and Ysgol Llandegfan will perform the Children’s University Anthem they wrote with The Welsh Whisperer at their school. There will also be an opportunity to ‘have a go at clogging’ with music by folk group AVANC and ‘Have a go at Circus skills’ with Circo Arts for all the children, proud parents and teachers.

It’s been a real pleasure to work on this pilot project with both excellent teams at Wrexham and ��ֱ��, and to meet the children and young people as well as teachers, headteachers and classroom assistant that lead the way in inspiring the young people of Gwynedd and Anglesey. They are the next generation that can make a difference in the world, large or small. The Children’s University encourages persistence in trying new things by enjoying the process of learning and taking on challenges. Congratulations to them all for graduating!”

Children at a drumming workshop — Drumming with Colin Daimond of Bloco Sŵn at Ysgol Bro Lleu
Credit:Children's University

Nina Ruddle, Head of Public Policy Engagement at Wrexham University, said: “We are incredibly excited for our North Wales Children’s University graduation ceremonies, which will recognise and reward the young people who have taken part and achieved 30 hours or more of additional learning activities. We hope it will be an event that gives them that special sense of achievement but also belonging within a higher education setting.

“This work is part of our commitment to supporting the communities we serve across the region, created through strong partnership and collaboration with a wide range of organisations all working to create change to support children and young people.

“Our aim now is to develop this work further across North Wales to support leadership, mental wellbeing and a love of learning for young people that connects all of our community resources together. This is a really inspiring way to enable young people to develop life skills and create broader opportunities to shape the learning children and young people want together.”

Following a successful pilot of the Children’s University initiative across Wrexham and Flintshire last year, the scheme expanded across North Wales

between September 2023 through to this month, thanks to funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW).

This funding enabled Prifysgol Wrecsam/Wrexham University to work with ��ֱ�� and as a key collaborative partner and a number of other regional partners to roll out the scheme to more than 50 schools, as part of a shared civic mission to work in partnership to end social inequality in the region.

A total of 147 learning destinations were recruited across Wrexham, Flintshire, Conwy, Denbighshire, Gwynedd and Anglesey as part of this latest roll-out of the Children’s University in North Wales.

Professor Andrew Edwards, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Civic Engagement at ��ֱ��, added: "We look forward to welcoming young people, their families and teachers to Pontio, ��ֱ�� for the Children's University graduation ceremony.

“The programme is a great opportunity to support children's enthusiasm for learning, and through our research on the scheme, we look forward to learning more about how we can give the children and young people of the region the best extracurricular learning activities and experiences."

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