Kowel Gwenen: The Hive

13/08/2025

Important Update from Kowel Gwenen: The Hive CIC

Thank you to everyone who has supported our mission to improve exam access for private candidates in Cornwall. We wanted to share a key update.

The planned private exam centre will now become part of CB Tutoring, which is rebranding as CB Tutoring and Exams Ltd. This change means we can move forward with providing exam access by Summer 2026 — something that, unfortunately, wasn’t possible through the CIC model due to funding and logistical challenges.

💛 The heart of Kowel Gwenen lives on. While it won’t operate the exam centre directly, we’re working towards launching a bursary scheme to support private candidates with exam fees. More to come on this soon.

Thank you for your continued support. Our commitment remains the same: making exams more accessible, affordable, and locally available to learners across Cornwall.

Kowel Gwenen: The Hive CIC would like to thank everyone who has shown interest in and support for our mission to improve access to exams for private candidates across Cornwall.Following extensive reflection and discussion, we are announcing a significant change in how this provision will be delivere...

18/07/2025

Imagine this...

A bright, motivated young person is ready to sit their exams but they have no school place, limited transport, or anxiety that makes traditional settings overwhelming.

Now imagine YOU being the reason they get a second chance.

By sponsoring our Community Interest Company, you’re helping to open Cornwall’s first private exam centre for young people a calm, welcoming space designed to meet diverse needs.

Choose your level of impact:
👑 Queen Bee – £750
🍯 Honey Bee – £250
🐝 Bumble Bee – £100

Every sponsorship changes lives. Be part of the story.

Contact us to find out more and to become a sponsor
www.kowelgwenen-thehive.co.uk
[email protected]

04/07/2025

We’re creating Cornwall’s first private exam centre for young people and we need your help to make it a reality.

Whether you’re a local business, an education ally, or just passionate about equal opportunities, you can support us by choosing one of our bee-themed sponsorship tiers:

👑 Queen Bee – £750
🍯 Honey Bee – £250
🐝 Bumble Bee – £100

Each level comes with exclusive benefits for 12 months, including recognition, promotional features, and the satisfaction of knowing you’re empowering learners across Cornwall.

Contact us to find out more
www.kowelgwenen-thehive.co.uk
[email protected]

Let’s remove barriers and build brighter futures together.

03/07/2025

Introducing Kowel Gwenen: The Hive CIC, the first private exam centre in Cornwall and Devon, opening for the Summer 2026 exam season.

We are a Community Interest Company (CIC) committed to providing an accessible, welcoming, and professional exam space for young people who have been home educated or educated outside the mainstream school system.

Our goal is simple: to give private candidates the opportunity to sit their GCSEs and Functional Skills exams locally, without the stress and expense of long-distance travel or overnight stays.

This is a much-needed solution for families across the South West, and we’re proud to lead the way in offering a fair, supportive route to qualifications for all learners.

Contact us for more information.
www.kowelgwenen-thehive.co.uk
[email protected]

23/06/2025

Be Part of Something Buzz-Worthy in Cornwall! 🌟

We're creating Cornwall’s first private exam centre for young people and we need your support to make it happen.

At our Community Interest Company (CIC), we’re on a mission to provide a supportive, inclusive, and accessible exam space for learners of all backgrounds. Whether they’re home-educated, returning to education, or simply in need of a flexible alternative, this centre will be a lifeline for many.

That’s where you come in. By becoming a sponsor, you're not just helping to fund a space, you're investing in futures. Choose from one of our bee-themed sponsorship packages and enjoy:

✅ 12 months of exclusive benefits
✅ Promotion of your brand as a community champion
✅ Direct impact on local education opportunities

Your sponsorship helps cover essential costs like exam invigilation, venue hire, accessibility measures, and learner support. Together, we can remove barriers to achievement and give every young person the chance to succeed.

Ready to make a real difference in Cornwall?

Join the hive. Sponsor our CIC today. Contact us for more information at:
[email protected]
www.kowelgwenen-thehive.co.uk

18/06/2025

We need your help!

Could you spare a few hours? Is there a fundraising activity you always wanted to run? Are you quite handy around the house? If so, we want to hear from you!

As you can imagine setting up and running the centre is an expensive venture so we are delighted to announce that Michele Ridgeway has kindly agreed to lead a team of volunteers to continue to raise funds for Kowel Gwenen. For those who don't know Michele, she is an incredible individual who has already raised over £1400 for the centre and runs a separate shoebox appeal in November and December to support her local community.

If you would like to be involved in the Bee-TA to either fundraise or support with getting the centre ready (there is lots of painting, plumbing/electrics and putting up shelves to do) please either message us here or get in touch with Michele separately.

29/05/2025

Incase you didn't get chance to catch it last week, here is some of our slot on the BBC.

It has been an extremely busy week since but we've finally caught up on all emails. Thanks so much for everyone's support.

13/05/2025

An exciting day today...

We've had our first student sit an exam at the centre. Thanks to Cornwall Council and the other centres involved for supporting this.

09/05/2025

Things might be quiet here but there is lots going on behind the scenes.
Please share with anyone who might be interested. Our Exam and Centre Officer role went live today:

Kowel Gwenen: The Hive C.I.C.

23/04/2025

EXCITING NEWS!

We have the BBC visiting us on Tuesday and they are really keen to talk to home educated young people and their parents about their experiences of trying to sit exams in Cornwall and the difference the centre will make to our community.

If you or your child would like to be involved please do get in touch with us.

12/04/2025

We would like to say a HUGE thank you to Michele Ridgeway and those who helped with the Bingo Night. We'd also like to thank local businesses that donated prizes and those who attended. They managed to raise £700!