King's Ely student awarded Arkwright Engineering Scholarship

We are thrilled to announce that King's Ely Sixth Form student, James Barber, has been awarded a prestigious Arkwright Engineering Scholarship!

James' scholarship is being funded by the Royal Air Force. Just some of the valuable opportunities he will receive over the coming weeks and months will include having his own mentor, invitations to 'connect days' at industry facilities, access to online enrichment resources, and a financial award of £250 per year to support his learning journey.

James joined King's Ely Senior in Year 9 from St Faith's School in Cambridge. He is studying Maths, Further Maths, Physics, and Chemistry for his A-Levels.

James, who is in Year 12, said: "To apply for the scholarship I had to take a drawing exam, which consisted of two parts - both requiring to draw and annotate designs with varying focus. The application process took a long time. I took the exam in February and only found out in September. But I am so pleased that all of the hard work actually paid off! 

"I am most excited for the outreach days, as they will give me so many opportunities to develop my knowledge of Engineering, and to explore all the possibilities. At University, I want to study Engineering Science or specialise in Aerospace Engineering. Engineering has always been an interest of mine as it allows me to solve problems logically but also creatively. This also helps me think critically about my work and I want to pursue this field through my working life."

The Arkwright Engineering Scholarships programme was launched in 1991 when a group of school headteachers concluded that Design and Technology was not being given the profile the subject deserved as a breeding ground for future high-calibre Engineers and Technical Designers. It was decided to launch a scholarship scheme to encourage and stimulate high-ability 15/16-year-olds to consider Engineering and Technical Design as a career, through the study of Design and Technology. Over the years the programme has widened its focus across the whole spectrum of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM), to seek out the very best students who are potential future leaders of the Engineering profession.

The programme is named after the famed 18th Century Engineer, Sir Richard Arkwright (1732-1792), inventor of the water frame and the 'father' of the modern factory system. Since 2018, Arkwright Engineering Scholarships have been administered by The Smallpeice Trust - the UK’s leading STEM education charity with over 50 years’ experience of helping young people develop the confidence to fulfil their potential.

Congratulations James - what an achievement and opportunity!