FORMER Eggar’s School pupil James Poyner has been awarded the prestigious Arkwright Scholarship.

The Arkwright Scholarships Trust offers prestigious scholarships to nurture and inspire high-calibre school students to pursue a career in engineering and technical design.

A registered charity, the Trust awards Arkwright Engineering Scholarships through a rigorous selection process. The scholarships support students through their A-Levels and encourage them to pursue engineering, computing or technical design at university or through a higher-level apprenticeship, and to pursue careers in the field.

Every scholarship is sponsored by an industrial company, university, charitable trust, trade association, professional institution, armed service, worshipful company, industry regulator, or personal donor.

James was one of Eggar’s top technologists, also getting top grades in resistant materials and graphics in August.

Neil Waite, curriculum leader for design and technology at Eggar’s, said: “We are immensely proud of James.

“He had to go through a rigorous application procedure which included a two-hour exam followed by an interview at Southampton University. And he had to undertake a personal engineering project which involved stripping down and resurrecting a dilapidated steam engine.

“James really deserves his scholarship and we wish him all the very best as one of Britain’s future engineers.”

James has now moved on to Alton College where he is studying for a Level 3 Certificate in Engineering alongside maths and physics A-Levels.