Space engineering student looks to the stars

A pioneering student has the perfect launchpad for his career in space engineering after acing one of Loughborough College’s most challenging academic programmes.

Tom Danvers, 18, from Leicester Forest East, achieved A* Maths and A* Physics as well as D*D* BTEC Engineering as part of his Enhanced A level in Space Engineering and will now study for a degree in Aerospace Engineering at Sheffield University.

Tom has immersed himself in aerospace studies over the last two years and remains on course following his fantastic results. He said: “It’s been a difficult year so I am very happy with the results. It was a scramble to complete everything that we wanted to after exams were cancelled, but we got there in the end.

“I’m really interested in joining and taking part in Sheffield’s aerospace engineering society and being involved in their student maker space as I want to continue building rockets and being hands on.”

The pioneering enhanced A level programme at Loughborough combines Maths and Physics A levels with a BTEC in engineering and is run is association with the National Space Centre. It is one of the College’s most challenging academic programmes.

Access to UK space expertise at the centre in Leicester has inspired Tom to look for job opportunities at home rather than abroad. He said: “Before I came to Loughborough I was a lot more naïve as to the opportunities available in the UK. I thought I would have to go to the US, but the course has opened my eyes to what is possible.”

, Principal & CEO at Loughborough College, said: “We’re so proud that Tom has achieved such incredible grades on our most challenging academic programme. What really made Tom stand out on the course was his willingness to get hands-on, which included building a telemetry device for a project to build a rocket. We wish him every success in his future career.”