Prestigious National Engineering Scholarships for Latymer pupils

Published on isbi School News dated Friday 24th of August 2012

Rory Bird and Henri Taxy, Year 11 students at Latymer Upper School have been awarded sought-after Arkwright Engineering Scholarships that identify them as some of the country's future leaders in engineering and related areas of design.

The renowned Arkwright Engineering Scholarships provide the students with a £600 financial award to enhance their A level studies and a range of activities to enhance their understanding and experience of engineering. Latymer Upper School will also receive £400 for each Scholarship that its students have been awarded. The Scholarships are respected by leading universities and industrial companies and are supported by top engineering employers such as Rolls Royce, BT, BAE Systems, National Grid, Balfour Beatty, Microsoft Research, Thales, The Royal Air Force and The Royal Navy.

Rory from Twickenham, and Henri from Chiswick, had to successfully complete a rigorous selection process consisting of a detailed application form, a two hour aptitude paper and an interview hosted at a top engineering university.

The aptitude paper tested candidates' flair and originality in solving engineering design problems. The interview was a grilling in which candidates 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.

Dr Martin Thomas, National Director of the Arkwright Scholarships Trust said: 'I am delighted to see students from Latymer Upper School secure this prestigious accolade. Clearly, there is considerable technical talent in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. With the competition for rewarding jobs becoming ever-more fierce, the receipt of an Arkwright Engineering Scholarship can help dynamic young people at the start of their journey to be the country's future leaders in engineering and related areas of design.'

Mr Edward Charlwood, Head of Design Technology at Latymer Upper School, commented, 'We are delighted that Rory and Henri have been awarded Arkwright Scholarships, one of the most prestigious scholarships schemes in the UK and they continue a rich history of Latymerians going on to study Engineering and Design. Both succeeded at the highest level in their recent Design & Technology GCSE examinations and as The Arkwright Scholarships Trust looks to find future Engineering stars, we think that in Rory and Henri they may well have found them. '