South Wales School Bucks the Science Trend

While the number of school pupils choosing science subjects is rapidly falling across the UK, a South Wales school is bucking the trend by sending over a third of its sixth form to read the sciences at university.

Now the efforts of Christ College, Brecon, have been boosted with the gift of a legacy of over £2 million, which will be used to fund up to 13 bursaries, which could mean free places for the very brightest pupils.

In 2003 of nearly 350,000 UK students starting degree courses, less than one per cent pursued the traditional sciences of physics and chemistry, having a major impact on engineering and the technical industries as well as on the medical sciences.

But while other schools and universities are looking to close physics and chemistry departments, Christ College will be using some of its new found wealth to enhance its already excellent facilities.

The legacy is a result of the generosity of the widow of a former pupil, David Hubert Jones, who having studied science at Christ College went on to establish a highly successful West Wales pharmacy business.

Said headmaster Phillip Jones: “We are proud that at a time when schools and universities across the UK are struggling to keep science departments open, we continue to send so many of our students to read physics and chemistry.”