On Tuesday 28 February 2017, six Year 9 and six Year 10 students travelled to the University of East Anglia (UEA) for the launch of the Brilliant Club's Scholars Programme. 

The Brilliant Club is an educational charity who work with non-selective state schools to increase the number of students progressing to highly selective universities, and the Scholars Programme places PhD researchers in schools to deliver programmes of academic enrichment to students.

The day was an opportunity to meet the PhD researcher who has been linked with Notley High School & Braintree Sixth Form, Leanne Grech. Leanne is completing her PhD at University College London (UCL) in the field of genetics, and she will be working with students for the next six weeks studying why the human body ages over time. Leanne's first tutorial with students involved them extracting their DNA from their mouths using saline solution, sanitising gel and food colouring!

Students also got the opportunity to have a tour of the UEA campus and meet current undergraduate students, as well as taking part in a study skills session to ensure they maximise their time with Leanne. At the end of Leanne's programme all students will have to produce a 2,000 word report detailing their learning and conclusions on the biology of aging. Students will then be awarded a university-style classification for their work, and will graduate from the Scholars Programme at a ceremony held at Homerton College, Cambridge, in May.

Mrs C Wager
Assistant Headteacher - KS3