Arden University is proud to continue its partnership with the charity, The Brilliant Club, to deliver the Make Your Mark programme, an attainment-raising initiative designed to support Year 10 students from less advantaged backgrounds.
Running in both Greater London and Greater Manchester, the programme supports students to improve their GCSE performance in core subjects by combining curriculum-aligned tutoring in English and Maths with the development of essential study skills. Through small-group in-person tutorials delivered in schools, trained Arden University students work with young people to strengthen subject knowledge, develop effective learning strategies and build confidence in their academic abilities.
This year’s programme builds on the strong results achieved in 2025-26, with over 990 hours of tutoring delivered, supporting 165 secondary school students across 15 schools. The programme demonstrated positive impact across subject knowledge, study strategies, cognitive strategies, and academic self-efficacy.
Key student outcomes:
- 20% increase in English study strategies, with more students believing they can use different methods to write creatively
- 12% increase in students believing they can achieve the exam results required to progress to higher education
- 9% increase in students feeling confident tackling longer maths tasks and identifying the key information needed to solve them
At the end of the programme, students also had the opportunity to experience university life through a visit to their local Arden University campus and take part in a subject masterclass and graduation ceremony.
One school representative said: “From the welcome to the dismissal, we enjoyed every moment. MYM and Arden representatives were informative, respectful of our students and really engaging throughout the day. To say I was pleasantly surprised by Arden Manchester would be a reserved statement. The setting was strikingly contemporary. A university for the current era - Hurrah!”
The programme also offered valuable professional development for Arden tutors, who reported enhanced teaching skills and greater confidence in supporting students from a diverse range of backgrounds. 89% of tutors now feel more confident in creating learning environments that support students from all backgrounds, while 100% feel confident using their experience as a tutor to support future job applications.
In the 2026-27 academic year, Make Your Mark continues to offer vital academic support to young people across Greater London and Greater Manchester.
Interested in your school taking part? Get in touch and find out more by emailing outreach@arden.ac.uk.