A Brilliant Experience with The Brilliant Club

During the start of the second year of my PhD at the University of Birmingham, I had the opportunity to work with The Brilliant Club as a PhD Tutor. Looking back, it has been a very rewarding experience of my doctoral journey so far. Beyond teaching, it helped me grow as a researcher, communicator and educator.

One of the things that impressed me from the beginning was the structured and supportive process. Before starting the role, I received several training sessions organised by The Brilliant Club. These included teaching training and safeguarding training for working with young pupils. These sessions were extremely helpful and gave me confidence before entering the classroom. As a postgraduate researcher who had limited formal teaching experience especially with young pupils at that time, this preparation made a real difference.

Another aspect that I appreciated was the practical support in arranging placements. I was allocated a school that was relatively close to where I live, which made travelling manageable alongside my PhD work. The process felt very well organised and straightforward.

For my placement, I taught a programme titled Gender and Peace, which connected closely with my own academic interests and research background. Teaching this topic to young students was a fascinating experience. Explaining complex ideas in a way that younger learners can understand requires you to rethink your own knowledge. In many ways, it strengthens your own understanding of the subject.

What struck me most during the programme was the curiosity and insight of the students. Young people often ask questions that make you pause and think differently about the topics you study every day. There were moments during discussions when I genuinely thought, “Wow, these are brilliant young minds.” It was inspiring to see how engaged they were with topics that are usually discussed at university level.

One of the highlights of my experience was supervising students on their final assignments. Seeing them develop their ideas, structure arguments and write essays was incredibly rewarding. I was particularly proud when one of my students, Stanley from Oldbury Academy, had his essay published in Issue 21 of The Scholar (p 46), The Brilliant Club’s academic journal. Seeing a student’s work reach that level was an amazing moment. It made me realise how meaningful this programme can be, not only for the students but also for us as tutors. When both the tutor’s effort and the student’s hard work come together to produce such outcomes, it is a very fulfilling feeling.

This experience also had a lasting impact on my own academic development. Teaching through The Brilliant Club helped me build confidence in the classroom and develop important skills such as explaining complex ideas clearly, engaging students in discussion and structuring teaching sessions. These skills later helped me secure a position as a Postgraduate Teaching Associate (PGTA) at the University of Birmingham, allowing me to continue developing my teaching alongside my research.

For postgraduate researchers who are interested in teaching, I would strongly recommend considering opportunities like The Brilliant Club. It is not only a chance to support widening participation and inspire young students, but also an excellent way to develop your own teaching skills and academic confidence.

For me, it was truly a brilliant experience.