A ‘Brilliant’ Day out with Bradford Academy

On Friday 11th May a group of 19 students from Bradford Academy got to experience a graduation ceremony to reward their hard work and achievements throughout ‘The Brilliant Club’. The Brilliant club is an award-winning charity that exists to increase the number of pupils from under-represented backgrounds progressing to highly-selective universities, by allowing students the chance to work with PhD Researchers. In order to graduate students had to submit an assignment set by their PhD tutor, which was marked at University standard.

A group of Year 9 and 10 students from the Bradford Academy ‘Scholars’ programme worked with two different tutors, one group using advanced mathematics to answer the question ‘How does your GPS know the fastest route?’ and the second group exploring international and intergenerational responsibility with regards to climate change.

Tutors spoke of their experiences working with the school, before presenting students with certificates, whilst the audience practised “marathon” and “sprint” clapping to make sure all students were celebrated! Bradford Academy learners received high praise from their Tutors, who commended their enthusiasm and engagement with the project.

Scholars lead Mr Freddie Marshall supported students throughout the project and said that “the Brilliant club stretched our most able learners intellectually and gave them the opportunity to develop a new range of skills relevant to Higher Education”.

 

Catherine Garbutt

NCOP Higher Education Progression Officer, Bradford Academy