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Student flying high with engineering scholarship

A pupil from Barnard Castle School has been awarded the sought-after Arkwright Engineering Scholarship that identifies him as one of the country’s future leaders on engineering and related areas of design.

The renowned Arkwright Scholarship provided Sam Theakston, 17, from Kirby Fleetham in North Yorkshire, a £600 financial award to enhance his understanding and experience of engineering. Barnard Castle School will also receive £400 for each Scholarship awarded to one of its students.

The Scholarships are respected by leading universities and industrial companies and are supported by top engineering employers and organisations such as Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, National Grid, Balfour Beatty, Microsoft Research, Thales, The Royal Air Force, The Royal Navy and the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

The Scholarships are also funded by charitable donors including principal donors The Reece Foundation, The Lloyd’s Register Foundation, the Gannochy Trust, the Dulverton Trust, the Emmott Foundation and S.F.I.A Educational Trust.

Sam has to successfully complete a rigorous selection process consisting of a detailed application form, a two-hour aptitude exam and an interview hosted at a top engineering university.

The aptitude exam tested candidates’ flair and originality in solving engineering design problems.

At the in-depth interview, candidates were asked about their career aspirations and had to discuss an engineering project they had conducted.

During the interview day the candidates took part in a team exercise to solve a hands-on engineering problem working with students they had never met before. Candidates and their parents also toured the engineering facilities at the host university and explored the diversity of engineering and design careers and their importance to the UK economy.

The Scholarship will be formally presented at a prestigious ceremony supported by The Institution of Engineering and Technology later in the year.

Dr Martin Thomas, National Director of the Arkwright Scholarships Trust, said: “I am delighted to see students from Barnard Castle School secure this prestigious accolade. Clearly, there is considerable technical talent.”

Sam is the fourth pupil in six years to achieve this award.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .