The Brilliant Club

The Brilliant Club is a UK-wide university access charity that aims to increase the number of less advantaged students accessing the most competitive universities. It supports these students to succeed once they are in higher education, with a focus on using the expertise of the PhD community to deliver university-style learning experiences.

Formation and History

The Brilliant Club was co-founded in 2011 by Jonathan Sobczyk and Simon Coyle, two school teachers who recognized the barriers faced by pupils from less advantaged backgrounds in accessing top universities. Their goal was to utilize PhD researchers to provide small-group tutorials outside the regular school curriculum, enhancing students' academic skills and university readiness.

Programs and Services

The charity's flagship program is the Scholars Programme, which supports students aged 8–18 to progress to top universities, including those in the Russell Group. By offering topics not typically covered in the standard curriculum, The Brilliant Club helps broaden students' educational horizons and prepare them for university-level learning.

In addition to its educational programs, The Brilliant Club operates other initiatives such as Parent Power, which empowers parents and carers to support their children's educational futures. It also has The Brilliant Consulting Unit, which specializes in research, strategy development, digital transformation, and curriculum quality assurance, helping other organizations to improve educational outcomes.

Operations and Reach

The Brilliant Club operates across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and as of its tenth anniversary in 2021, it engaged with approximately 20,000 pupils annually. The charity is registered in England and Wales (No. 1147771) and Scotland (No. SC048774), and it has been recognized for its impact, winning a Guardian Charity Award in 2015.

Leadership and Governance

Since April 2020, Anne-Marie Canning has served as the CEO of The Brilliant Club, leading the organization in its mission to support greater social mobility through education.

Financial Overview

In its most recent reported financial year, The Brilliant Club had a total income of over £6.3 million, with significant expenditures dedicated to charitable activities. The charity relies on donations, government contracts, and other sources of income to support its mission.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Brilliant_Club [2] https://thebrilliantclub.org [3] https://thebrilliantclub.org/about/ [4] https://thebrilliantclub.org/support-us/ [5] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/about-the-register-of-charities/-/charity-details/5027039