Cardiff Student Yuxuan Wu Celebrates Outstanding A-Level Results and Oxford Law Place
Cardiff Sixth Form College student Yuxuan Wu is celebrating his A-Level results today after achieving an A* in English Literature, A* in History, A* in Mathematics an A in Physics plus an A* grade in his Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) which examined the legal and ethical implications of assisted dying.
The Cardiff student, who studies at Cardiff Sixth Form College on a scholarship, has secured a place to read Law at Jesus College, Oxford.
Yuxuan’s passion for law was first sparked after attending a careers event at Cardiff University, where he was introduced to the subject as a potential career path.
“I became interested in law because it combines analytical thinking with questions about society and justice,” he said. “I was particularly attracted to Oxford’s course because it looks not only at what the law is, but what it should be and how it can benefit society.”
A significant part of Yuxuan’s academic journey has been his EPQ on assisted dying, a topic he first encountered through debate before undertaking extensive independent research.
The project examined both legal and ethical arguments surrounding assisted dying, drawing on parliamentary legislation, academic journals and medical research.
“I looked at the issue from both sides and tried to understand the legal implications as well as the ethical concerns,” said Yuxuan. “I studied the original House of Lords Bill and connected my research to more recent proposals that have been considered by Parliament.”
His research involved analysing academic papers, legal theories, parliamentary documents and publications from medical organisations, including evidence from countries where assisted dying has been legalised.
“The conclusion I reached was broadly supportive of assisted dying in principle because of the importance of personal autonomy and choice,” he explained. “However, there are important concerns that need careful consideration, particularly around coercion and ensuring strong palliative care provision.”
Alongside his academic studies, Yuxuan has developed an impressive reputation as a debater and public speaker. As a committee member of Cardiff Sixth Form College’s student-led Debating Society, he has helped organise weekly debates, select motions and mentor younger students in debating techniques.
His success on the national debating circuit includes reaching the finals of the Oxford University Debate Competition, the Cambridge University Debate Finals and participating in the Imperial College Debate. He was also a Silver Finalist at the prestigious Warwick University Debate competition and has competed in the English-Speaking Union’s ESU Mace debating competition.
Yuxuan’s interest in legal reasoning extends beyond the classroom. As Vice President of the College Law Society, he has helped teach Year 11 and Year 12 students about different areas of law and supported teams preparing for Mock Trial competitions, including last year’s winning team.
He also represented Cardiff Sixth Form College in the Ethics Cup competition, where students analyse and debate complex ethical issues ranging from genetic engineering to prison sentencing and ethical investment. After winning the South Wales round, the team progressed to the national finals at the University of St Andrews, where they won three of their five rounds and received a special award for Nuanced Argument.
Committed to widening access to debating opportunities, Yuxuan has also participated in an outreach programme supporting state schools across Wales. Recognising that many schools lack debating provision, he helped deliver workshops on debating skills and establishing debating societies, welcoming around 40 pupils to Cardiff Sixth Form College.
Beyond academics, Yuxuan is an accomplished chess player who has represented Wales at Under-13, Under-15 and Under-18 level in international competitions across the UK.
He is also an accomplished musician, playing both clarinet and piano to Grade 8 standard. As a member of the Cardiff and Vale Youth Orchestra, he plans to continue performing alongside his studies at Oxford.
Said Principal Cardiff Sixth Form College, Tom Arrand: Yuxuan is talented on many levels, as a keen debator, chess player and musician and his analytical skills are superb. He is a student who is keen to make a difference in society through law and explores questions of justice and ethics and has already made a difference locally with his outreach programmes. I am looking forward to hearing about his next chapter.”
