Brilliant Club: Scholars Programme

On Tuesday 8th July, I had the pleasure of taking 13 Year 9 students to Magdalene College, University of Cambridge to celebrate their achievement of successfully completing and graduating from the Scholars Programme, organised by the Brilliant Club. The Scholars Programme, run by UK-wide university access charity The Brilliant CLub, supports students aged 8-18 to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to progress to the country’s most competitive universities and succeed once there.

By participating in the programme our students were encouraged to think and work independently across seven tutorials with a subject expert PhD researcher. The topic for the programme was ‘Do we really learn with our brains? Exploring Embodied Cognition’ which included completing a challenging final essay which was given a university-level grade.

At the Graduation Event, Meghna M and Crystal P shared their experiences of the programme, standing up in front of all of the other students who were attending the graduation event; below are extracts from their Spoke Scholars speeches:

“I would like to share my personal experience on this programme with my peer, Crystal. I would love to begin by saying what a fantastic opportunity the Scholar’s programme has been. It has given me an outlook on a subject I would never have explored, and my research on the topic has opened doors that I didn't even think possible. Our class learned about Embodied Cognition, which, according to Psychology Fanatic, is the theory that our thoughts are shaped by our physical bodies and environment.

At first, I was slightly apprehensive. After all, I had never heard of the theory, let alone studied it. However, Julia, our tutor, explained every concept perfectly. She engaged and encouraged us to go above and beyond in our essays and work, so even when we were marked on a university level, we all did well. On the way, there were so many facts I learned and knowledge I came across. Like how children can develop quicker and better when all parts of their body are involved, significantly improving their problem solving skills. I think this could greatly impact education. I know I've felt tired or bored in class, and embodied cognition could definitely help avoid this for future generations.

Moving on, although the course was great, I did come across some obstacles. Especially procrastination when it came to writing my essay. However, after I first sat down and began writing, the words just kept flowing, and my research made me even more interested in the topic.

Now I would like to give Crystal a chance to speak, however I would like to add one more thing. This experience has probably taught all of us how easy it is to excel in a subject you love, and how enjoyable learning would be when you love the topic. I want to take this piece of knowledge to when I'm in university studying a course, or going into a career. Loving what you do should always be at the top of your list, and I think the Scholar’s programme has really shown me that.” Meghna M

“My name is Crystal, and I'd like to begin by saying how grateful I am for the opportunity to take part in the Scholars Programme. Over the past six weeks, our tutor, Julia Skilton, has introduced us to a topic that we had never studied before, Embodied Cognition and its impact on education. As my friend Meghna mentioned earlier, this was very insightful and interesting, especially since education is such a key aspect of our lives.

One of the parts I enjoyed most about the course was the tutorials themselves. We were taught by Julia who encouraged us to ask questions and made every tutorial feel more like a class discussion rather than just being taught. I remember in one lesson, we had to discuss a ridiculous argument that claimed “education should never change.” Julia challenged us to consider both sides, and though I disagreed with one side, it helped me understand how to build a balanced argument which was very helpful for my final assignment.

Throughout the programme, I’ve developed various skills, like referencing, identifying key information, and comparing theories. These are skills that I’ll definitely carry forward into university and my career. I’m really grateful to have had this opportunity, and I’d like to thank Julia and The Brilliant Club for making it possible.” Crystal P

Congratulations to Emmy W, Freya M, Kenny K, Om P, Chinmayi R, Atharv J, Issac L, Lois B P, Leo K, Jasmine C, Oliver D, Mehgna M and Crystal P for completing the programme and your excellent final assignments!

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