Rebecca is our best bytes boffin (From Penarth Times)

Rebecca is our best bytes boffin

A YOUNG Penarth woman hailed as Wales's top female computing student was rewarded for her hard work on Tuesday.

Former St Cyres School pupil Rebecca Clarey, 18, now studying music at Oxford University, attended the 'A' Star Awards in Atlantic Wharf, for Wales's top ten female students.

The awards are aimed at encouraging more women to take up careers in information technology.

As our best computer performer, Rebecca was presented with £250, a laptop computer and a trophy by Jane Davidson, Assembly Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning.

It follows her magnificent A-level results, in which she achieved As in Computing, History, English and Music.

Also rewarded were fellow computer students, Penarthians Amanda Ford and Victoria Peregrine.

The event was attended by councillors and dignitaries from local education authorities and committees and the Welsh Joint Education Committee was also in attendance.

Now Rebecca will go on to a grand final to compete in a head-to-head tie breaker. She will compete within a group of eight girls made up of the top two students from Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The winner will be announced on November 15.

Brian Lightman, Rebecca's former head teacher at St Cyres, where she was head girl, said: "Rebecca fully deserves her success and we are proud of all that she has achieved.

"She has been an outstanding pupil and is a credit to her parents, the community and the school and we wish her all the best."

He added: "We are confident she will continue to maintain the very high standards that she has always shown during her time at St Cyres."