Wednesday 26th February 2025 marked a significant milestone at Cambridge University, Magdalene College - founded in 1428, with its own section of the River Cam and a well-regarded candlelit formal hall. This event was not a traditional graduation for university students but rather a celebration of a group of year 10 students completing the Scholars Programme, an initiative run by the charity Brilliant Club to inspire young people and broaden their awareness of opportunities at the UK’s top universities.

Over the course of ten weeks, students participated in after-school sessions led by Alba Jiminez, a PhD student at Imperial College London. They developed the confidence and academic skills needed to apply to prestigious institutions in the future. Their journey culminated in a final dissertation, titled "Beyond the DNA Sequence: How Epigenetics Defines the Fate of the Cell", a challenging piece of work pitched at one Key Stage above their current level, which was assessed and awarded a university-grade mark.

As part of the day students were encouraged to reflect on their future university options, received a guided tour of the university led by current students, as well as an information, advice, and guidance session to support their aspirations for higher education.

This group of students demonstrated outstanding excellence, determination, and independence in achieving this success. We are immensely proud of their accomplishments! A special congratulations to Elis and Harry for courageously taking the stage as spokespersons for the group.