The Achieve and Learn Trust is proud to partner with The Brilliant Club, which is an award-winning university access charity that works with schools across the UK. Their aim is to increase the number of students from under-represented backgrounds progressing to highly selective universities. 

PhD researchers are trained to deliver 'The Scholars Programme' in schools where they share their subject knowledge and passion for learning with small groups of pupils aged 8-18, helping pupils to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to progress to the country’s most competitive universities and succeed when they get there.

Research using data from the Higher Education Access Tracker (HEAT) has shown that the Scholars Programme also has a positive impact on GCSE attainment. Students who completed the Scholars Programme in Year 8, 9 or 10 were more likely to achieve a 9-5 in maths and English than students who scored similarly at Key Stage 2 within their schools.

Case Study: Altrincham College

In spring 2025, Altrincham College partnered with the Brilliant Club for the first time.  The Year 10 students were carefully targeted to meet the Brilliant Club's mission to support students from less advantaged backgrounds.  The criteria included one or more of the following:

• Pupil Premium
• No parental history of higher education
• Living in 40% most deprived areas according to IDACI

How the programme works

The Scholars programme was introduced to students via a series of online launch events. Parents and carers were also invited to an online event at the start of the programme to find out how they could support students.

Before the first tutorial, the students’ PhD tutor delivered a session in school to get to know the students, introduce them to The Scholars Programme in more detail, and share more details of the course they would be studying ('Future Vaccines'). Students then took part in a series of tutorials with their PhD tutor in small groups to emulate university-style teaching and learning.  The students completed a challenging final assignment which was marked by their tutor using a standardised mark scheme.  Two of the Year 10 students in the cohort achieved a 1st or a 2:1 grade, meaning the work submitted was at university or A Level standard.

Graduation Event:

The event culminated with a graduation event at the University of Manchester to reflect on the students' achievements and celebrate their completion of The Scholars Programme.

 

 

Student Quotes:

"Now that I have experienced what it is like to be graded at university, I feel confident that I will do well if I work hard."

"It was enjoyable and educational!"

"It made me feel proud of what I had done."

"The graduation event was really eye opening and taught me a lot about what happens at university and what it's like. I enjoyed it and I am considering going to university."

 Amy P, Year 10, Altrincham College

Amy's final assignment  focusing on vaccines, received a '1st' classification, and it stood out even further by being one of just 30 assignments chosen for publication in 'The Scholar' across the entire country.  The Scholar is an academic journal that celebrates the very best work submitted nationally through the programme.

Amy’s work was reviewed by a panel of PhD researchers and selected for publication based on academic merit and originality. 

An extract of Amy's assignment can be seen below:

Further information:

The Scholars Programme is available for pupils from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 5.  For more information, please click here

At first, I was quite anxious and concerned because, looking at it, I thought it would be really difficult. After my tutor helped me, I felt a million times more confident... I feel extremely lucky to have a tutor such as James because he is so nice and supportive.

Pupil, Year 6, Manchester