Y12 students attend Brilliant Club Graduation

The Brilliant Club is a UK-wide programme that pairs students up with a tutor that has either completed their PhD, or is currently working towards it. The aim is to inspire the next generation of university students, expose them to university-style studying techniques and support access to higher education.

Vandyke was paired with Dr Daryl Scott, a film expert. We were tasked with writing a 2,000 word essay on the topic of film language, and how it creates meaning. Students wrote essays on films and TV shows such as Ted Lasso, The Devil Wears Prada and Back to the Future. These essays were then marked by Daryl to an undergraduate standard. This experience aimed to develop skills of academic writing and referencing, and to prepare students for university-level work.

On 19th May, myself and a group of Y12 students travelled to Oxford University for a Brilliant Club graduation event. We were given a tour of St Anne’s College, one of Oxford’s colleges, and then taken to Wadham College to enjoy lunch in their dining hall. Finally, we finished our day in Oxford’s town hall at a graduation event with over 200 other participants, at which Evelyn and I presented. This day was to recognise our work on the Brilliant Club programme, which we participated in during the months preceding the event.

The programme was inspiring and has prepared me greatly for my next steps on my academic journey.

Written by Evie O (New Y13)