Disadvantaged students get an insight into top universities (From Times Series)

Whitefield School, Brent Cross, students get an insight into top universities with The Brilliant Club

11:30am Tuesday 9th October 2012 in News By Emma Innes

Students at a Brent Cross school have been given the chance to work with some of the country’s top PhD students.

A group of Year 11 and Year 13 students from Whitefield School, in Claremont Road, took part in The Brilliant Club – a programme aiming to widen access to top universities for outstanding students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The 20 GCSE and A-level students attended a launch trip to Sussex University in the spring.

Then, during the summer term, they took part in tutorials with PhD students from Russell Group universities over a six week period.

Following the tutorials each pupil was required to write a university style essay which was marked by the PhD students.

The Whitefield students have now completed the course and have just returned from a graduation ceremony at Oxford University.

While there they toured the city, met staff, received certificates and discovered the grades they had been given for their essays.

Alina Mocanu, a Year 11 student who took part in the programme, said: “Taking part in The Brilliant Club was one of the best things that I’ve done since being at Whitefield School.”

The students will now be offered follow up sessions which are designed to create a culture of excellence and hard work.