As the dust settles on an extraordinary period of learning, Barnard Castle School’s A level students look forward to what the future now holds
FACED with four boxes of spare parts there was only one thing to do for a budding motorsport race engineer – assemble them into a rare vintage motorbike and make it your EPQ.
For student Leon Blackburn rebuilding the classic 1929 Scott motorcycle did the trick as it helped secure him a place on the motorsport degree course run by the University of Derby, where guest lectures often include engineers from F1’s Red Bull Racing.
In its day the Scott was a cutting edge machine featuring a two-stroke twin cylinder engine and water cooling. Today only about 4,000 exist in the world and they are much-sort after by collectors.
“My dad runs the only company in the world to restore and rebuild Scotts and he just gave me four boxes of parts and let me get on with it,” said Leon, of Barnard Castle, who dreams one day of being a motorsport technician.
“I’m really excited to get into Derby and to be working on cars and bikes for the next four years.”
Motorsport is in Leon’s blood with his mother, father, aunties and uncles all competing in various formulae over the years His father Richard used to race against Jenson Button in Formula 4 and Leon has competed at karting against notable talent including McLaren driver Lando Norris and Williams F1 driver George Russell.
“My dream is to be a race engineer or mechanic in MotoGP, which I’ve loved since I was about five, for the Honda Race team.”
Esia Forsyth’s love of English and public speaking is pushing her in the direction of humanitarian charity work abroad.
She sees the analytical approach to academia as key in understanding human actions, many of which she has spoken out against during her time with the school’s lectern club.
A first team hockey player, helping the school reach the national finals, she plans to use the discipline and passion for sport as she reads an English degree at Bristol University.
“I love the city, which is vibrant and great for festival and the music scene,” said Esia, of Cotherstone.
“English literature has always been my favourite subject and I like the analytical approach to human nature. The course also includes studying some of my favourite authors. I loved the whole Barney journey, right from when I started at Prep in year 4. It has been amazing, the trips, the sport and the house activities.”
Fellow hockey first team centre half Emma Gedye has witnessed the huge impact physiotherapy has in sport but now hopes to extend that to the full range of human ailments as she reads a degree in the subject at Liverpool University.
“I was lucky enough to escape any injury while playing and was originally looking at working in sport,” said Emma, of Barnard Castle.
“But after some work experience in respiratory physiotherapy I realised that this was the subject for me.
“I’m really looking forward to going to Liverpool because I believe physiotherapy can have an amazing effect on people’s lives.”
Head boy Bagi Ali sees a future helping to rebuild Sudan, the country of his family, ravaged by 30 years of military dictatorship and civil war.
Bishop Auckland-born to Sudanese parents, he is inspired by the plight of the country as he takes up a place at top university UCL to read economics.
Headmaster Tony Jackson said: “We are extremely proud of all the Barney students receiving their results in the most unique circumstances before they take their next steps in this exciting stage of their lives.”
