A gifted learner from Aberdare is one step closer to his dream of designing the sustainable cities of the future after achieving top grades and securing his place at university.
Armed with AAB grades in biology, chemistry and law, eighteen-year-old Scott Harris is set to head to Liverpool University in September to study Biological and Medical Sciences.
The talented teenager, who is passionate about biodiversity, is hoping to pursue a career in biophilic architecture – a role which would see him design urban buildings that incorporate natural and sustainable elements such as green roof gardens, recycled rainwater, solar panels and other clean energy.
Hoping to do one year of study abroad as part of his course, Scott has kept himself busy over the summer brushing up on his language skills, revisiting his French and Spanish GCSEs, as well as practicing his art skills in readiness for his degree.
Scott is no stranger to hard graft and putting in the hours over the summer after he attended not one, not two, but an impressive five summer schools last year with various universities where he spent time living on campus and going to taster lectures and lab sessions.
Speaking about his results, Scott said: “I am so happy and proud of myself after getting my results today and can’t wait to head to university.
“I’m really interested in biology and love art, so for me, designing sustainable housing and buildings would be the perfect career. I’ve been practicing my sketching over the last couple of months and am really excited to start my new course. Being from a rural area, I’m also excited to move to the city!”.
Scott’s impressive grades come as Coleg y Cymoedd has reported its third successive record-breaking year of A-level and vocational results.
The college’s Nantgarw-based A-level Centre, which switched to remote learning in March following the Covid-19 outbreak, has achieved a 99.7 per cent overall pass rate, with the number of learners attaining A*-C grades up to 80.9 % per cent at A2 and the majority of A2 subject areas securing a 100 per cent pass rate, including the sciences, humanities, further maths and English.
The results continue a trend of improvement for the college, which has had to adapt its teaching and pastoral care practices to support leaners as they work from home via online lectures, virtual catch ups and continual check ins.
Karen Phillips, Principal of Coleg y Cymoedd, said: “This has been a very different year for our learners as they have navigated studies through a global pandemic and national lockdown. We have been amazed by the hard work, dedication, and resilience that they have shown as we have all adapted to working from home.
“While we cannot celebrate with learners in person this year and are missing our usual campus festivities, on behalf of the college I congratulate all who have received their results today. We wish them the very best for the future, whether they’re planning on heading to university, apprenticeships, further education, training, or employment – we’ll be keeping in touch with them all and watching their fantastic progress closely.”
