Twelve Goodwin Academy students are celebrating after graduating from the Brilliant Club’s Scholars Programme at Imperial College London.
Brilliant Club’s Scholars Programme is designed to support students to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to progress to some of the most competitive universities in the country.
Goodwin Academy is part of the high-performing Thinking Schools Academy Trust, which leads 21 successful primary and secondary schools across Medway, Kent, Torbay, Plymouth and Portsmouth. To continue the Trust’s mission to transform life chances, the Academy took part in the Brilliant Club’s programme for the second year running.
As part of the programme, Year 9 and 10 students engaged in a series of challenging and inspiring courses. These covered subjects that look beyond the curriculum to help develop critical thinking skills and were taught by PhD tutors to provide a taste of university-style learning.
Students had the opportunity to research and answer questions such as, "Germline gene editing is real. How did humanity get to this point?" Within this particular session, students explored scientific discoveries, including CRISPR-CAS9 and Artificial Reproductive Technology (ART), and gained an understanding of the changes in bioethical discussion.
The group also enjoyed a visit to Goldsmiths University of London where they attended a study skills session and an information, advice, and guidance session. They then embarked on an exciting campus tour and met with current undergraduates to learn about student life in higher education.
The Academy is delighted to announce that all twelve students passed the programme with flying colours. To celebrate, they enjoyed a congratulatory breakfast at Goodwin Academy with their Headteacher, Mrs Moon, before travelling to London where they officially graduated from Imperial College London.
Nikki Gravell, Head of Science and Brilliant Club Lead at Goodwin Academy, said:
“I am so proud to see our students achieve so highly, with all students passing the programme. It was amazing to hear our students come away feeling inspired and motivated to succeed. A huge thanks to all involved, including both universities and the Brilliant Club.”
Rachael Moon, Principal at Goodwin Academy, added:
“A core part of our approach is transforming life chances and raising aspirations of our students through a range of career and development opportunities. It has been fantastic to see how engaged our students have been and the brilliant experiences they have gained as part of the programme. I am looking forward to seeing their next steps and the bright futures they have ahead of them.”