Ryedale School

The Brilliant Club Scholars Programme

At Ryedale School, we’re always looking for innovative and ambitious ideas to promote excellence and create new and exciting opportunities for our students. We spotted one when we came across The Brilliant Club – a charity aiming to widen access for outstanding pupils in non-selective state schools to the most selective universities around the country. Providing the chance to experience a taste of learning and life at universities such as Cambridge, Oxford, Manchester and Durham is our way of guiding and motivating our most able students towards pathways to help them fulfil their academic potential.

 What is The Scholars Programme?

•  It is a programme that places university researchers (PhD Tutors) in schools, to give pupils the experience of university-style learning. 
• The PhD tutors teach university-style tutorials to groups of six pupils, based around supra-curricular topics designed to stretch and challenge pupils.
• The programme involves visits to two of the most selective universities in the area. Our visits last year were to ‘The University of Sheffield’ and ‘Durham University’. These visits allow students to tour the university campus and to talk to undergraduates about their university life and experiences.
• At the end of the programme, pupils complete a final assignment of between 2000 and 2500 words, which will be marked in university-style with pupils receiving a 1st, 2.1, 2.2 etc. Their accomplishments are then celebrated during the second university trip at a ‘Graduation Ceremony’ that can be attended by parents.

 Why has my child been selected to take part in the Scholars Programme?

 Students are selected by teachers who identify them as having the potential to make a successful application to one of the most selective universities. In addition, the programme aims to support and promote high ability students from under-represented backgrounds who may, otherwise not have had these opportunities. Although the university may not be for everyone, The Scholars Programme aims to give children an experience of university learning to help them make an informed decision.