The first thing you noticed was the buzz. Families arrived early, phones already in hand, scanning the seats and waving to familiar faces across the hall. Young people adjusted caps, smoothed down gowns and tried to look calm, even when the excitement was obvious. For two days in a row, William Aston Hall filled with the kind of anticipation that only comes when something feels genuinely important.
Learning beyond the classroom in six months
These graduation ceremonies were the celebration point for the Children’s University pilot in Flintshire and Wrexham, delivered over approximately six months. In 2023 to 2024, eleven schools in Flintshire took part (six English medium primary and five secondary, including one Welsh medium secondary), alongside fifteen English medium schools in Wrexham (twelve primary and three secondary).
The scale meant the programme was visible across communities. It became something children talked about in school, something they could compare with friends, and something they could work towards with a real sense of purpose.
Across the pilot, pupils took part in a wide range of extracurricular experiences. Opportunities spanned sport and physical activity, STEM, arts and culture, outdoor learning, literacy, nature and the environment, practical life skills, social and community action, citizenship, and mental health and wellbeing.
Children recorded and tracked their learning hours on the Children’s University online portal, building up a clear picture of everything they had tried and achieved. The breadth mattered because it opened more than one door. Some young people found confidence in a team. Some discovered they enjoyed creating, building or performing. Some found a structured, safe space after school where they could try something unfamiliar and keep going until it clicked.
Two graduation days at William Aston Hall
By the time graduation arrived at Wrexham University, all of that effort had turned into something visible. Across two ceremonies, more than 400 young people graduated. They walked across the stage one by one, collected certificates recognising the hours they had completed, and were met with warm applause that did not fade. It was the kind of moment that makes young people stand a little taller, and it makes families quietly proud in a way that stays with them long after the photographs are taken.
One moment lifted the whole room. Sophia from Victoria CP School stepped onto the stage and performed Rolling in the Deep by Adele. Her performance brought an extra surge of energy into the hall and captured what the Children’s University can unlock when young people are given a platform and supported to shine.
A celebration that carried on at Maes Gwyn Hall
After the final certificates and the last round of applause, the celebration continued at Maes Gwyn Hall. Food was shared, photographs were taken, and conversations flowed between children and school staff. It felt like a chance to pause, reflect and enjoy the moment together, with one clear message running through it all.
Learning beyond the classroom matters, and it deserves recognition.
You can watch videos from the Wrexham and Flintshire graduation: