Education Minister, Leighton Andrews today visited Cyfle Young Mother’s Unit in Pentre Maelor to award a young mum her Welsh Baccalaureate.
Charlotte Blackwell, age 18, is the first person in Wales to achieve the Welsh Baccalaureate Foundation Diploma through a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU).
Charlotte achieved her qualification through Cyfle, which is an education unit for pregnant and parenting school age girls. The Unit offers education, advice and support services to the pupils and encourages reintegration to mainstream schools.
The unit also offers childcare facilities and is linked with Wrexham Maelor’s Mums2b teenage clinic to ensure the young mums have full support.
Leighton Andrews said:
“I would like to congratulate Charlotte on her achievement. It is vital that young mothers understand the importance of continuing their education, and Charlotte is an excellent example of what can be achieved with the right guidance and hard work.
“Cyfle received an exceptional Estyn report, which is testament to the quality of their services. The programmes on offer and the hard work of the staff are invaluable to these young mums at such a life-changing time in their lives.
“I am particularly pleased to see that the students are encouraged to reintegrate with mainstream schools – this supports the aims of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Behaviour and Attendance Action Plans and encourages young mums to continue experiencing a normal teenage life.”
