An inspiring Saundersfoot teen, who lost her older brother to bone cancer, says his death has inspired her to study medicine.

16-year-old Nicole Bridle was invited to be part of the Welsh Government-funded Seren Network after she received 3 A*s, 8 As and a C in her GCSE exams, and now hopes that the programme can help her achieve her dream of studying to become a GP.

The Seren Network was set up with the aim of assisting Wales’ brightest students to fulfil their potential academically and apply to the UK’s leading universities.

Launched by the Welsh Government in 2015, it follows a report by Oxbridge Ambassador, Paul Murphy, former MP for Torfaen and now Lord Murphy, who was appointed by the Welsh Government to examine the decline in Welsh applications and admissions to Oxford and Cambridge.

His report recommended that a national network of partnership hubs be set up to allow schools and colleges to share expertise and work directly with the UK’s leading universities.

More than 300 pupils from schools and colleges across Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire attended the event at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli to welcome the new cohort of Seren students moving up into year 12, after the Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire ‘hub’ was officially launched earlier on this year.

Pembrokeshire College student Nicole lost her brother Daniel two years ago and says she is now determined, more than ever, to reach her goals.

“Daniel’s death inspired my other brother Lewis and I to aim high and achieve our dreams. Lewis is now in his first year at Cardiff University studying medicine and I want to work harder and help people by going to study medicine too,” she said.

“I was shocked to be invited onto The Seren Network, but I’m so over the moon. It’s a fantastic opportunity and hope it’ll help me gain confidence and support my application to university.”

Seren activities and workshops are designed to stretch and challenge the students beyond the A-Level curriculum, giving them the chance to enhance their subject knowledge alongside a peer group of like-minded students.

Students will also have access to reading lists, and staff from leading UK universities including Oxford and Cambridge, while receiving subject support from teachers and information and advice about university applications.

Jon Jones, chairman of the Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Seren hub, said: “The Seren Network is about inspiring students, helping them confirm previously-held ambitions, or question their futures by introducing them to new and exciting possibilities in higher education and beyond.

“We’re hoping the event to welcome the new cohort of Seren students will be a real catalyst to inspire further success from an already remarkable group of young people drawn from institutions across west Wales.

“The Seren hub has worked hard to establish productive links with sector-leading university departments and we’re supported by an outstanding team of teachers and staff, all of whom are eager to see their own students realise and exceed their potential and achieve their ambition of university study at the highest level.”

Approximately 2000 of Wales’s brightest A-level students have been invited to attend the Seren Network following a rigorous criteria selection process. 11 hubs make up the Seren Network; Merthyr/RCT, EAS (South East Wales Educational Achievement Service), Swansea, Wrexham/Flintshire, Pembrokeshire/Carmarthenshire, NPT/Bridgend/Powys, Cardiff, Anglesey/Gwynedd, and Conwy/Denbighshire, Ceredigion and Vale of Glamorgan.

For more information about the Seren Network, visit www.gov.wales/seren