Egglescliffe School celebrates outstanding GCSE results and ambitious next steps
A KARATE blackbelt is hoping to throw himself into medical research inspired by two members of his family who have had to live with chronic illness.
Tom Darbyshire, the head boy of Egglescliffe School, Yarm, secured 10 GCSEs and will now stay on in sixth form to study A levels in biology, chemistry, maths and further maths.
He hopes to read medicine at a Russell Group university before working in research to find cures and better treatments for a variety of life-threatening ailments.
“My grandma was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and my great-granddad with dementia,” said the 16-year-old, of Ingleby Barwick.
“Disease really disrupts life and is the curse of living longer. It would be wonderful if we could find ways of stopping it and improve the quality of people’s lives.
“I have an uncle in Canada who works in the field and it would be fascinating to do something similar. If you could do anything that would improve people’s health, why wouldn’t you. And it’s a really interesting time to be involved after breakthroughs with genetic medicine, where the body uses its own immune system to fight serious diseases.”
Tom had high praise for his teachers at Egglescliffe. He said: “My biology teacher also encouraged me to go into medicine and pharmaceuticals and is a large part of the reason I have such a passion for the subject. She also helped me lots in finding work experience and is such a kind person.”
A keen sportsman, Tom has studied karate since he was seven and is now a second dan black belt and teacher of the martial art. He also swims for a local swimming club where he volunteers to teach. He plays flanker for a rugby union club and outside centre for a rugby league club.
Tom, who also sings in the school choirs and plays piano, is looking forward to sixth form especially joining 20 classmates on a World Challenge three-week trip to Ecuador to help the local community.
“My form tutor for five years and has always been a positive influence throughout my time at Egglescliffe,” he said.
“Along with my parents, she always encouraged me and all our form group to engage ourselves in new challenges. A wonderful example of which is her being one of the teachers going to Ecuador with us for World Challenge. Along with the rest of the team, being our head boy has been a huge privilege and I have loved every opportunity to promote the student voice and make it a more engaging environment for all.”
Two students who were born in the USA are celebrating success in the UK after studying across the pond.
Egglescliffe School pupils Emily Williams, of Louisianna, and Lauren Sackett, of Texas, plan to stay in the country to study A levels and degrees after successfully achieving a brace of GCSEs.
Emily, 16, gained ten GCSEs including one grade 9 and four grade 8s and will go on to study A levels in maths, further maths, physics and geography.
Her aim is to study aerospace engineering at Imperial College, London, and then become a commercial pilot, flying long-haul to fulfil her love of travel.
“Egglescliffe School has been great,” she said. “The teachers are so supportive and I have been able to get involved with lots of extra-curricular activities, such as hockey and football at county level and touch rugby.”
Lauren, who also gained ten GCSEs including four 9s and four 8s, plans to study A levels in maths, further maths, physics and chemistry, before reading a degree at Durham University.
The 16-year-old has also made the most of her time in Teesside playing netball for Shooting Stars, playing basketball, being a member of the Formula 24 race team, a Greenpower Education Trust STEM challenge, where students aged 11 to 16 design, build and race single-seat electric cars, as well as completing her bronze and silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards.
“I really enjoy living and studying in the UK,” said Lauren, who also lived in China for four years. “Doing D of E was great, particularly coaching younger netball players and completing the expeditions on the Cleveland Way and North York Moors.
“Career-wise, I’d like to do something around STEM subjects and possibly end up working anywhere in the world.”
A netball teammate of Lauren’s, Isla Horlock, also plans to shoot for the stars after gaining ten GCSEs. Next, she plans to study A levels in biology, chemistry and maths, before reading a science degree at university.
“I have been at Egglescliffe since Year 7 and it has been really good,” the 16-year-old said. “I like maths because once you have got it, you have got it and once it clicks it works.”
Head teacher Neil Gittins said: “Egglescliffe School is once again celebrating an outstanding set of GCSE results and I could not be prouder of our students, staff and families.
“More than 80 per cent of students achieved a standard pass (Grade 4+) in both English and mathematics, while an impressive 90 grade 9s were awarded across the cohort.
“These excellent outcomes are a testament to the hard work, determination and resilience of our students, the dedication, expertise and unwavering commitment of our staff, and the tremendous support provided by parents and carers throughout their children’s education.
“I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our families for their encouragement, partnership and belief in our young people. Together, they have helped create the conditions for success. We congratulate every student on their achievements and wish them every success in the next stage of their journey, whether that is at Egglescliffe Sixth Form, where we look forward to welcoming many of them back in September, or in other exciting pathways beyond school. Their success today reflects the strength of our whole school community, and we are incredibly proud of all they have accomplished.”
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