We’re delighted to announce that, since 2015, The Brilliant Club has partnered with Middlesex Learning Trust schools to deliver The Scholars Programme to over 1,000 students.
PhD and post-doctoral researchers from several universities have delivered the programme across the three schools within the Trust: The Compton School in Barnet, Stopsley High School in Luton, and Southgate School in Enfield.
On the programme, tutors share their subject knowledge and passion for learning with small groups of pupils aged 8-18, helping them to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to secure a place at a competitive university.
84% of Trust students who have taken part in the programme have achieved a 1st or 2:1 on their final assignments, and students have made 23% progress on average across subject knowledge, written communication and critical thinking skills.
Ann Marie Mulkerins, CEO of Middlesex Learning Trust, said of the partnership: “I strongly believe that our values as a Trust align with those of The Brilliant Club: ambition for all, removing barriers and improving access to higher education, as well as preparing students for the contributions they will make to society beyond education.
“Enabling students to work with PhD tutors and visit universities has raised aspirations and provided learning opportunities that have allowed our students to feel that they would belong and thrive at university in the future.”
Susie Whigham, CEO of The Brilliant Club, reflected: “It’s been fantastic to partner with Middlesex Learning Trust schools to provide over 1,000 students with the opportunity to explore university-level research, boosting their skills and confidence towards higher education and their future careers.”
In November 2025, The Brilliant Club’s Chief Engagement Officer, Sabrina Luisi, spoke at Middlesex Learning Trust’s annual conference about the ongoing partnership and The Scholars Programme’s impact on Trust students.
“A highlight for me was meeting the students who took part in The Scholars Programme this year and hearing their reflections on what it’s meant to them. They shared how it’s changed how they feel about going to university in the future and what it meant to work with a PhD tutor. I was blown away by how articulate and confidently they spoke about The Scholars Programme – to an audience of almost 300 people! We also heard from Karen Hand, who was the lead teacher for The Scholars Programme for many years, on the difference she saw it make to one of her students who had never considered university before and is now studying engineering at Cambridge.
“It was clear to me that at every level and team within the Trust, young people are at the heart of what they do. I’m delighted that during our partnership we have worked with over 1,000 students across the Trust, and I look forward to working with the next 1,000!”
Students spoke at the conference about their experiences on the programme, saying:
“The Brilliant Club enabled us to stretch our existing skills and form new ones in order to excel in our project.” – Year 10 student, The Compton School
“The Brilliant Club was a huge step up in terms of planning, structuring, and writing an essay. I am very proud that I achieved a First for my essay.” – Year 10 student, The Compton School
Karen Hand, Headteacher at Stopsley High School and previously Deputy Headteacher at The Compton School, shared about her time leading the programme at The Compton School:
“I’m delighted to say a few words about The Brilliant Club, an organisation I’ve had the privilege of working with since 2012. Our partnership began with a small cohort of Year 9 students on an introductory trip to the University of Sussex.
“I could never have imagined, standing with them on that campus for the first time, that one of those students, who was from a disadvantaged background, would use that trip and the project as his ongoing motivation to go to a Russell Group university, so to hear him share with pride that he would be going to King’s College London proved to me that The Brilliant Club really does deliver on its aims. Moments like that stay with you.
“In 2015, a new cohort of Year 7 students began their programming project on bristlebots (I had no idea, but it was programming the brush heads of electric toothbrushes), and I saw one student in particular transform before my eyes. He had struggled with poor attendance and was on a Child in Need plan, but something about the project ignited his genuine interest in computer science and confidence. His progress was extraordinary, so much so that attending his graduation became one of the most memorable days of my career.
“While I no longer lead the programme in school, I absolutely continue to invest in engaging our students in The Brilliant Club and all it has to offer. It opens doors, inspires ambition, and reminds students that university and a bright future is not just for ‘someone else.’ It’s for them.”
Year 13 students at The Compton School who took part in the programme in Year 9 were asked what they had taken from the programme for their ongoing educational journey. Here’s what they had to say:
“I found the programme an educational insight into the level of work required at university. Achieving a 1st in the final essay improved my confidence in my ability to write argument-driven responses to academic questions, allowing me to develop the skills needed later to complete my EPQ as part of my A-Levels.” – Year 13 student
“It was a good introduction into university-style learning in terms of learning how to form arguments, write structured essays, and to find reliable and relevant scientific resources to reference. Working in a small group where we were strongly encouraged to all contribute developed my confidence in speaking in front of other people, especially when I gave a presentation at the final university-visit day in front of many students, tutors, and teachers from other schools.” – Year 13 student
These students are currently looking at studying at the University of Birmingham and The University of Exeter or the University of Oxford respectively. One of the students shared: “The skills that I got from being a part of The Brilliant Club have led me to be more confident in my essay subjects that I am taking at A-Level. I hope to also carry these skills over to university.”
The Middlesex Learning Trust continued to run The Scholars Programme during the Covid-19 pandemic, providing motivation during a disruptive time for many.
Zoe Merritt, Chief Compliance Officer for Middlesex Learning Trust, who led the programme from 2019-2021 at The Compton School, reflected:
“It was very positive for our Year 7 cohort in 2020 to pick up the project when schools were able to reopen as they entered Year 8. We observed increased motivation and drive and were heartened that students had not been deterred by the lockdowns and interruptions to their studies. It was timely that their topic was ‘Disease Detectives’ and the cohort learnt about infectious agents, the diseases they cause, and important prevention and treatment methods.
“In completing their final assignments, they had to act as ‘Disease Detectives’ and write a report on how they would reduce the spread of a particular infectious disease outbreak. They also developed wider skills of writing and comprehension, critical analysis, scientific knowledge, and independent research.”
Schools interested in signing up for The Scholars Programme can enquire here for 2026-27.
Multi Academy Trusts interested in exploring how The Scholars Programme can help embed a culture of academic excellence can view this page for more information.