Brilliant boffins got a taste of their future when they took part in a formal graduation at a prestigious university.

Twelve Year 7 students from the Wey Valley School headed to the Exeter University to graduate from the 'Brilliant Club'.

The Brilliant Club is an award-winning, independently-evaluated charity that exists to increase the number of pupils from under-represented backgrounds progressing to highly-selective universities. The club achieves this by mobilising the PhD community to share its expertise with state schools.

Earlier this year, the Wey Valley students visited Bristol University and took part in a series of university-led workshops on literary theory, culminating in a 1,500 dissertation and a graduation day in Exeter.

The graduation day, which included six other schools from the South West, involved academic studies on ‘Medieval Monsters’ with Doctor Claire Harrill, as well as a question and answer session, a tour of the campus and the formal graduation in one of the University’s lecture halls in the company of parents, carers and staff.

Mr Steve Dyer, assistant principal at the Wey Valley School congratulated all of the students on their achievements.

He said: "The Year 7 students have been excellent throughout the tutor sessions and the visits to universities have provided a useful insight into university life and the opportunities, great facilities and courses available after secondary school."

Isaac Martin and Taksh Patel were two of the Year 7 students to graduate.

Isaac said: "It has been a great course and opportunity to study with a university tutor and complete the work. Before the Brilliant Club I was thinking about university and this experience has confirmed my ambitions."

Taksh also praised the Brilliant Club programme, and added: "The university tours have been great with great support from the tutors. I would thoroughly recommend the Brilliant Club to anyone thinking about university courses."

This academic year The Wey Valley School fully funded the project for the students as a way to provide the experience of studying at one of the UK's top universities.

Mr Dyer said: "The students have embraced the challenge of the dissertation with flying colours and all were rewarded today with their certificates. I would also like to thank the many parents who came to Exeter University to share in the graduation celebrations.

"With the success and positive feedback from the Year 7 group, we are very keen to broaden these opportunities for more students next year and possibly extend the experience to other year groups."