We were invited to contribute to the October 2025 edition of PiXL Insights on Stretching and challenging more able learners. Here you can read our article about why academic enrichment programmes like The Scholars Programme are becoming increasingly essential in the context of a widening socioeconomic attainment gap.
When you think of Japanese cinema, spheres of hot gas, and a Mr Whippy (with a flake, of course!), academic enrichment might not be the first connection that springs to mind. Yet, for middle- to higher-attaining students involved in The Brilliant Club’s Scholars Programme, these are just some of the vibrant topics they may cover. With over 270 university-style courses on offer, The Scholars Programme deepens curiosity, develops confidence and raises attainment for Key Stage 2-5 students.
And the data leaves little doubt: these programmes are more essential than ever.
With the socioeconomic attainment gap widening considerably since 2020, stalling ten years of progress since 2010 and continued evidence of stark gaps in university attendance between non-FSM and FSM pupils, the need to support underrepresented pupils is only increasing. Many of the challenges facing young people from less advantaged backgrounds are systemic and deeply rooted, which means they can’t be tackled in isolation. We are proud to work with over 800 schools, 64 universities, over 450 PhD researchers, and almost 1,000 parents and carers across the UK to support 15,000 students each year in accessing and thriving at competitive universities.
Our flagship Scholars Programme mobilises the PhD community to deliver their own cutting-edge research in classrooms across the UK. Through a university-style course, PhD tutors share their expertise with students, transforming complex academic ideas into accessible, inspiring learning experiences. The programme is designed to challenge middle- to high-attaining students, especially those from backgrounds most likely to miss out on accessing competitive universities because of their family income, parental history of higher education or their postcode.
Over the course of seven one-hour tutorials, students deep dive into advanced topics, culminating in a challenging final assignment. They receive detailed, university-style feedback, and celebrate their achievements at a prestigious graduation ceremony hosted by a leading university. For some students, the only doctor they have ever met before is their GP and so the opportunity to learn from a leading academic, such as a Doctor of Physics, Philosophy or English, is one they wouldn’t ordinarily have.
For example, students in Poynton High School were tutored by Alexia Lopez, who recently was featured in the news for their discovery of a new ring of galaxies. By learning beyond the curriculum, students develop academic skills, build their understanding and develop the confidence to see that university is not just a possibility – it’s somewhere they can truly belong.
While discoveries are being made in the sky, the programme also delivers impact on the ground. According to the Higher Education Access Tracker (HEAT), students who completed The Scholars Programme in Year 7, 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. And the benefits don’t stop there. UCAS data shows that Year 12 Scholars Programme students are statistically significantly more likely to apply to and receive an offer from a competitive university than students from similar backgrounds. As a result, they also progress to these institutions at a higher rate.
This matters. Research published by TASO in 2024 confirms that graduating from a more competitive university has a greater impact on a graduate’s earning potential than the difference between attending a less competitive university and not attending university at all.
But behind the stars and statistics are the stories that truly matter. Like the Key Stage 2 student exploring the question, ‘What is Fairness?’ in our academic journal, The Scholar. Or Moonsun Bharj, who once participated in the Scholars Programme in Year 9 and eight years later returned as one of our PhD tutors.
Reflecting on her journey, she shares:
“It was one of the most exciting experiences, learning something that was university level when I was just in high school. And now I’m feeling like all of that has come full circle and I’m now a PhD tutor coming back and teaching children about my project.”
Since the charity began in 2011, we have worked with over 150,000 students and each one has a story of their own.
Some, like Moonsun, return as tutors. Others become alumni speakers, for example championing social mobility in the House of Lords. Some go on to teach, while others may rise to positions of influence, shaping the systems they once navigated. Wherever they go, we’re proud to have been part of their journey and can’t wait to see where they go next. We’re thrilled that two of our alumni, Sarah and Chiara, have shared their stories with the PiXL Insights team.
We also know that beyond academic support, many students also feel uncertain about how to make the transition from school to university. We offer a series of free UniPrep webinars, open to Year 12 and Year 13 students, focused on university life. These have included a session with Nightline, supporting students to manage wellbeing and maintain balance at university, with Bloomsbury, helping pupils master study skills, and with finance experts, BlackBullion, discussing budgeting and finances at university.
Amongst all the people supporting a young person’s success, we know that the biggest influence on a young person is their parent or carer. It is often parents and carers who have the deepest understanding of the barriers that their children may be facing and where change is most needed.
Our Parent Power programme brings parents and carers together in a local area to understand the barriers and create campaigns to tackle them. Bradford Parent Power have just secured funding for additional tutoring for their children, whilst parents in Cardiff have shaped how the University of Cardiff runs their contextual admissions. As Beverley Wong, one of the founding members of Parent Power, told us:
“The Parent Power group helped to show me I was not alone, that acting together can create power and change for all.”
The Brilliant Club is firmly built on the principle of working together to support less advantaged students to access the most competitive universities and succeed when they get there. If that feels like something you would like to do too, you’re warmly invited to Join the Club. Let’s keep redefining what access and success can look like, whether it’s through a Japanese film, a stargazing session, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Because every moment of curiosity, connection, and community brings us closer to a future where higher education is truly for everyone.
Written by Emily Raisin (School Partnerships Officer) and Sabrina Luisi (Chief Engagement Officer).
To find out more about PiXL Insights and to read their other publications – focused on topics such as improving inclusion for learners with SEND, raising boys’ achievement, and partnering with parents for impact – click here.
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