PUPILS at Ysgol y Preseli are to take part in a project with a prestigious American university.

The Crymych-based secondary school has forged a link with Harvard University with the aim of improving the long term well-being of its pupils.

The project will kick off in the New Year when pupils in Year 7 will be given detailed questionnaires to fill out, which will then be sent to researchers in the US.

The information will help both the school and Harvard researchers tailor resources to improve how pupils think about themselves and their attitudes to learning at the school.

“I believe we are the first school in Britain to link up with Harvard University in this way,” said headteacher, Michael Davies.

“We hope that their expertise will help us improve the way we deal with pupils - particularly the most disadvantaged and vulnerable.”

The Harvard link is the brainchild of school governor and educationalist Dr Tim Thomas who has strong links with the American university.

“Harvard is one of the world’s leaders in educational research,” he said.

“They believe very strongly that the right resources put in at secondary school level can be life changing.”

The Harvard project is one of a range of measures Pembrokeshire County Council is taking to improve the well being of pupils across the county.

All schools already take part in the PASS survey, which assesses pupil well-being twice a year.