The Brilliant Club: New research shows a positive impact on GCSE attainment using HEAT KS4 Attainment Track data

Earlier this summer, The Brilliant Club published their latest findings on raising KS4 exam attainment for students who participated in The Scholars Programme. 

This programme gives students from non-selective state schools and colleges the opportunity to work with a PhD researcher to experience university-style learning. It helps students to develop the university knowledge, academic skills, and attainment to secure a place at a competitive university. 

Method and Findings

Using the HEAT KS4 Attainment Track data for the 2022 exam year, The Brilliant Club utilised the return of the school average comparator. By comparing the percentage of Scholars Programme students achieving a strong pass in maths and English with students from the same schools with similar prior attainment at Key Stage 2, they evidenced that students who participated in their programme in Year 8, 9 or 10, were more likely to achieve a 9-5 in maths and English than their peers.  

Please read The Brilliant Club’s Research Note for more information on the method of analysis and key findings.

With attainment being the single biggest predictor of progressing to university, The Brilliant Club’s research provides an excellent example of how the HEAT KS4 Attainment Track data and dashboard can be used as part of a robust evaluation process to evidence the impact of your attainment-raising outreach programmes.

Thank you to The Brilliant Club for collaborating with us on this post. Please reach out to hello@thebrilliantclub.org for any questions on their work with the PhD community and less advantaged students.

Evaluation Resources

It is possible for all members to optimise their evaluation process and outcome reporting in this way, by ensuring your activities are coded appropriately on the database using the Activity ‘Programme Title’ and/or ‘Descriptor’ fields. For more information, please see our Coding Activity Descriptors and Programme Titles for Evaluation guidance document on File Store (members only). 

Learn more about how HEAT can support you to evidence impact through our tracking services by watching the video below.