Just Brilliant!
On Wednesday 15th May, the hard work and dedication of our Year 10 Brilliant Club students were celebrated at a graduation event at University of Oxford to mark their completion of The Brilliant Club’s Scholars Programme.
The Scholars Programme gives students from non-selective schools and colleges the opportunity to work with a PhD researcher to develop key academic skills and experience university-style learning, in preparation for successful applications and transitions to higher education.
On the programme, students undertook a challenging university-style course and developed the research and academic writing skills required to excel at university. The programme was structured around tutorials where students developed their subject knowledge and critical thinking skills through independent research tasks and group work. Students were taught by a PhD tutor, who shared their expertise, helping students develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to secure a place at a competitive university.
Students took part in several seminar sessions with Kam Meakin from the University of Sussex and worked towards completing a challenging final assignment on Exploring Political Shifts: Dystopian Fiction, marked and moderated using university grades.
Students reflected on the process of the Scholars Programme, explored St Anne's college as well as taking a tour of the university grounds and being given the opportunity to take part in a Q&A session with a current student.
It was an amazing day that finished with the students graduating at Oxford Town Hall. We are so proud of the achievements these students have made on the Scholars Programme and hope it will inspire them to aim high.
The Ashcombe School has been involved with the Scholars Programme since 2019 and it is a key part of the many widening opportunity programmes available to Ashcombe students.