A NEW partnership aimed at helping more young people from Blaenau Gwent get access to top universities has been launched.

Coleg Gwent's Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone has become the first-ever 'hub school' for Oxford University's Jesus College.

The idea is the brainchild of Blaenau Gwent MP Nick Smith, who set he had put it in motion after he learned just two students from his constituency had been offered places at Oxfrod between 2010 and 2015 - a success rate of just eight per cent of those who applied.

“I was dismayed to read this," he said.

“It struck me that more needed to be done to encourage young people in Blaenau Gwent to aspire to apply to top universities and to increase the chances of those applications being successful.

“Our kids are as bright as any other kids and I think our brightest should be at the world’s best universities.”

The new hub was officially launched at an event at the Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone last month, where more than 50 pupils from secondary schools in the area met five undergraduates studying at Jesus College and heard a speech from career development fellow at the College Dr Matthew Williams.

Dr Williams added: “The aim is to work in partnership with Blaenau Gwent schools to raise the aspirations of local students.

“Students from Blaenau Gwent are chronically underrepresented at universities like Oxford, which means we are missing out on the extraordinary talent and potential of these young people.”

The learning zone's head of school for general education and access Suzanna Thomas said: “It was an exciting and inspirational day for the young people in our schools and our A-level learners and it was a pleasure to have Dr Williams from Jesus College, Oxford with us.”

Labour MP Mr Smith added: “We have so many talented young people across the borough and this link will give them the encouragement, the support and the advice they need to apply to top institutions.

“It will also bring together and complement the good work that Coleg Gwent and the access team at Jesus College do.

“This will build on the college’s longstanding and historic ties to Wales and I very much look forward to working together and supporting these efforts as much as possible.”