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More than 1,400 gifted DUX pupils across UK offered free IGGY membership

DUX pupils David Lomax and Alisha Hanif from Cardinal Newman SchoolTop-performing pupils nominated for the government’s new DUX awards are being offered free membership of the global online education network, IGGY (International Gateway for Gifted Youth), based at the University of Warwick.

IGGY is a global online education network for gifted 13-18 year olds and members are offered high quality content and the opportunity to connect with other gifted students and top academics across the world.

Free membership to the network is being offered to 1,470 pupils who were nominated for a DUX Award, a scheme launched earlier this year by the Department for Education to encourage the recognition and reward of top-performing pupils in Year 9.

The University of Warwick is also one of 20 Russell Group universities set to host a special open day for Year 9 Dux pupils and teachers next week.

Warwick will host 67 pupils, aged 13 and 14, and 35 teachers from a number of schools across the UK and the event will include academic taster sessions and the opportunity to talk to student ambassadors and IGGY staff.

The event will include interactive taster sessions such as ‘The Octopus and the Bear: how do we know when a vaccine is working?’ from researchers at Warwick Medical School, and ‘Robots are coming out of the factory!’ from researchers in Engineering and WMG.

University of Warwick Vice Chancellor Professor Nigel Thrift said: “We are delighted to offer an opportunity to some of the top pupils in our schools to get a taste of life at Warwick, one of the UK’s top 10 universities. We are also delighted to be to able give all Dux pupils something extra special in the form of a year’s free membership of IGGY.”

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: “I am delighted that so many schools are taking part in the Dux Awards as an opportunity to celebrate success and reward the achievements of their year 9 pupils.

“Pupils and teachers from all over the country are visiting some of the UK’s best universities so pupils can experience a taste of university life and see first-hand the opportunities available. The visits are intended not only to reward achievement but also to widen horizons and raise the ambitions of pupils who might not otherwise consider applying to some of this country’s most prestigious universities.”

Director of IGGY Janey Walker said: “The Dux Awards are a great way to recognise gifted pupils, and we’re delighted to offer the nominees free membership of IGGY. IGGY’s online network will enable them to connect to academics and to other gifted pupils around the world, extending their horizons and giving them opportunities way beyond school.”

Notes to editors

To find out more about IGGY, visit their website.

For more information please contact Kelly Parkes-Harrison, Press and Communications Manager, University of Warwick, k dot e dot parkes at warwick dot ac dot uk, 02476 150868, 07824 540863