Note: The companies involved in the process detailed below asked not to be mentioned by name. Instead, we have used Company A, Company B, etc. 

A degree apprenticeship is becoming an increasingly attractive option for Year 13 students planning their next steps. A degree apprenticeship involves hands-on training, earning a wage as an employee, combined with a three to four-year undergraduate degree gaining a high-level academic qualification. The chance of employment after the apprenticeship is also excellent. Understandably, to gain a place on a degree apprenticeship is very challenging – literally thousands of candidates applying for a very few places. When we found out that Matty Partridge, Year 13 student at Richmond Sixth Form College, had received offers from not one, but two British companies, we had to find out more – read on! 

RSFC: Typically, though less so nowadays, Year 13 students who want to continue their education apply to university through UCAS – why did you choose a different route? 

MP: I did that too, as a backup, but I’ve always been a practical learner – doing practical stuff is the way I learn best. A lot of my academic understanding has come from the physical application of a process, and that’s what degree apprenticeships offer – doing a degree alongside a proper job. Also, my dad did an apprenticeship with Esso Petroleum and his first two years were at based in AERE Harwell Apprentice school (Atomic Energy Research Establishment) in Oxfordshire back in the 80 and 90s. 

RSFC: And did the fact that you start earning straight away and are less likely to have to pay back a significant student loan affect your decision to apply for degree apprenticeships? 

MP: It was a factor to consider but not the priority – it was primarily the type of learning and the education that I would get from it.  

RSFC: Ok. So, you made your decision to apply – these courses are highly competitive - how did you do your research and decide what to apply for? 

MP: I looked at what was available and asked: Is it engineering? Is it a field that I enjoy? If the answers were yes, I applied. I put in 47 applications – all the big engineering firms – Airbus, Honeywell, EDF, BAE, Sellafield, Rolls Royce to name a few. The more you apply for, the more chance you have of being selected. 

RSFC: I had the impression that there weren’t many degree apprenticeships available, but you’re giving painting a different picture? 

MP: Yes – there are a lot out there. I think companies are starting to realise that there are a lot of people that want to learn in a practical environment and don't necessarily want to go to university. They want to get stuck straight into work – because they enjoy it! I was speaking to another candidate at an assessment centre who said she didn’t want to go to uni: yes, because of the debt, but mainly because she’d done her work experience and realised that she prefered work! Similar to me, actually. I did a week’s work experience in Year 12 and loved getting stuck in and working with a team. It was at Viper RF in Newton Aycliffe – they make electronics for satellites. They didn’t completely let me loose, but I learnt so much from simulators and things. Having that practical engagement, but also the theory behind it was just perfect – I loved it. 

RSFC: So, 47 applications. Is an application just filling in a form and sending it off? 

MP: Pretty much, yes, but it did vary. Some were online forms; some were old-school where you had to send a CV. That was the start of the process. If you made it through that stage, a lot of the companies then did online interviews where your answers were recorded to video – horrible! 

RSFC: Were you interacting with a human during these interviews? 

MP: No. The questions just came up on a screen. Sometimes they gave you a time limit of a minute or two minutes to answer. Some of the questions were really tricky. 

RSFC: So, not just, “Tell us a bit about yourself...”? 

MP: Oh no – they're not bothered about that at all! They’re looking for your ability to problem-solve and to think quickly. They don’t want to know about your knowledge – they can teach you that, but they can’t teach you quick thinking and to have an adaptable approach to solving problems 

RSFC: Give us an example of a particularly horrible question. 

MP: So, one company asked a question about safety – they said that they were experiencing safety issues with one of their processes. They asked, “Before the next safety review, what are you going to do to ensure that our entire team is safety compliant?” They gave me a minute. I didn’t get that one! Another company asked, “We’ve delivered a product to a customer, and they’re not happy about it. What are your solutions?” I had two minutes for that one. Many of these questions are very hard, especially for people of my age. I’m lucky that I have good people around me who helped me prepare. I also used ChatGPT to help me practice similar question styles. I asked it to give me these types of questions, specific to this company, and to give me a time limit. That was really helpful. 

RSFC: So interesting that you used AI to prepare for these questions. Did anyone ask you about AI? 

MP: Not directly, but in my wider discussions it’s been raised that you now have to think about whether a particular job is going to become obsolete. In the time from when I start the apprenticeship to when I finish, some parts of the job will have become obsolete because of AI – it's nuts! 

RSFC: Scary – especially just coming into employment, like you are. 

MP: I think the concept of an engineer is changing. As technology and information become more readily available, engineering companies are less interested in looking for ‘experts’ in subjects but more interested in problem-solvers. 

RSFC: Ok, 47 applications, lots of impersonal interviews – what happened next? 

MP: So, I managed to get through to the next stage with four companies. The next stage involved either just an interview or what’s called an assessment centre where you spend a day at the company with a group of candidates. 

RSFC: And how many people get through to this stage? 

MP: Well, I went to an assessment centre at a company in Gloucester and there were ten of us, and it was one of five days, so 50 people got through. This was for one job. They told us that 5000 people had applied initially. 

RSFC: 5000 applicants for one job. Wow.  

How does an assessment centre work? 

MP: The one in Gloucester was focused on materials science. It wasn’t my highest priority, to be honest, but I wanted to learn from the experience, make mistakes, and apply what I learned to other assessment centres. It started with an individual exercise – a practical. Then there was a group exercise – building a tower made of spaghetti, then an interview. We also had a tour of the site. That’s basically how most assessment centres work – individual, group, then interview. There was one exception – that was an interview with a junior engineer and a fourth-year apprentice – much closer to my age than the usual more senior interviewers. There were still some tough questions, but it was much easier to talk to them – I think young people can find the more senior interviewers intimidating sometimes. 

RSFC: And did you feel you had to do any research or preparation for any of these assessment centres or interviews? 

MP: A mix. One company recently gave me some feedback saying they thought I was well-researched and linked many of my interview answers back to the company – they like it when you do that. Same with one of the others – I actually quoted some information from their website – they were very happy with that! But then one didn’t ask me anything about the company at all. I actually brought a folder with me. For each of the four companies, I had a list of expected questions and my answers. I also had pictures of different parts of their websites and of some of the projects I’d done myself. I think the folder gave the impression of being well-prepared, and it also helped me – I get nervous in interviews sometimes, so it was good to have something to refer to, and to show them. 

RSFC: And after those days – offers quite soon afterwards? 

MP: No, not at all. I haven’t heard back from one yet. Another didn’t offer me a place. The other two offered me a place after a month. All of them told me they’d processed thousands of applicants. 

RSFC: So, you have a decision to make – Company A or Company B. How are you approaching that? 

MP: I’m talking to a lot of people! I’m leaning towards one at the moment – it's a much bigger, international company that will offer lots of transfer opportunities. They also have a space section, which is something I’ve always wanted to be involved in. I have to take the education side of things into account too. The degrees are different, so I need to consider what is best for the future. One degree is more general mechanical engineering, the other is more science and electronics. We’re also doing a Pugh concept selection matrix... 

RSFC: ...a what?!... 

MP: ...it’s basically just an Excel spreadsheet with different weightings for all the factors affecting a complex decision. So, for example, how far away from home the course is, the pay, the accommodation etc. All the factors’ weightings are compared to a baseline – we're using Sheffield University. The result should be a relatively unbiased decision as to which course to go for. 

RSFC: I love how you’re approaching the decision-making process! 

MP: It’s hard – I'd do both degrees if I could! 

RSFC: It sounds like whichever one you choose will be brilliant. 

To read more, head over to our Facebook page.

Thanks to Mr Westgate for the following reports: 

The Year 10 football team delivered an excellent set of performances to win the recent Area 7-a-side Tournament, showing quality, resilience and teamwork across five matches. 

The tournament began with a confident 3–0 victory over Thirsk, setting the tone for the day with strong organisation at the back and sharp attacking play. Richmond followed this with a difficult match against Risedale, where despite a determined display, they suffered a 3–1 defeat.  

Richmond responded superbly, recording a convincing 3–0 win over Northallerton, controlling possession and limiting their opponents to very few chances. That momentum carried into the next fixture against Easingwold, where another 3–0 victory highlighted the side’s discipline, passing quality and composure in front of goal. 

The final match against SFX was a standout performance. Richmond dominated from the outset, playing with pace and confidence to secure an emphatic 5–0 win, sealing the tournament title in style. 

Across the tournament, the team showed outstanding togetherness, work rate and attitude. Solid defending, energetic midfield play and clinical finishing proved the difference, making this tournament victory a thoroughly deserved achievement for the Year 10 footballers. 

Year 10 photo left to right: Jake Murrell, Louie Petch, Ethan Garside, Tom Simpson, Joe Brookes, Henry Ward, Justin McGregor, Nathan Collier and Noah Lister.  

Richmond v Thirsk 3-0 win 

V Risedale 3-1 loss 

V Northallerton 3-0 win 

V Easingwold 3-0 win 

V SFX 5-0 win  

The Y7 football team produced a series of competitive and spirited performances in their tournament, showing great teamwork and determination throughout the day. 

Richmond opened the tournament with a hard-fought 1–1 draw against Thirsk, battling well and showing early determination. The team then built momentum with an impressive 2–0 win over Bedale, keeping a clean sheet and taking chances calmly when they came. 

A tight match against Northallerton followed, ending in a 0–0 draw. Richmond defended well, worked hard for each other, and showed good discipline against strong opposition. Despite a 2–0 defeat to Easingwold, the team remained positive and committed, continuing to compete right to the final whistle. 

The tournament finished on a high note with an excellent 2–1 victory over SFX, where Richmond showed both character and quality to secure the win. 

Overall, the Year 7s displayed excellent effort, teamwork and sportsmanship, making this a very promising tournament experience for the squad and one to build on for future years. 

Y7 - Finished 3rd overall

Richmond v Thirsk 1-1 draw 

V Bedale 2-0 win 

V Northallerton 0-0 draw 

V Easingwold 2-0 loss 

V SFX 2-1 win  

Year 7 photo left to right: Max Read, Archie Porter, Jake Kirkbridge, Owen Mundell, Charlie Davies, Harry Cowperthwaite, Jaxon Tarrant, Harry Adams, Billy Kenealy 

Richmond School recently hosted a Year 3/4 and a Year 5/6 Mini Tennis festival. Many thanks to the following schools for supporting the event: 

The Mini Tennis festival aimed to provide an inclusive competitive opportunity for pupils to develop fundamental tennis skills, teamwork and confidence while representing their schools in a positive and enjoyable sporting environment. 

Each school brought a team of four pupils. These pupils all played numerous Mini Tennis games against the other schools to earn points for their team. The team results were as follows; 

Year 3/4 

Year 5/6 

All schools demonstrated excellent participation, sportsmanship and teamwork. The event was led by Sports Leaders from Year 9 at Richmond School who independently umpired the games, scored, communicated with the pupils and staff and led the presentation. 

Some time ago we publicised a fundraising 12-hour Danceathon, held at the Comrades Club, Richmond, raising money for Dementia Forward. 

Mrs Fox, Richmond’s Lead Teacher of Dance, led one of the sessions – she provides the following: 

“Just thought I'd share a few photos from the Danceathon last Saturday. The event was a great success and hopefully raised awareness of Dementia Forward in our area. The total raised was £1538.40. 

My 9:00am Line Dancing class was the busiest session of the day and some of my lovely GCSE and A Level Dance students from school even came along to support and join in – thank you to them! 

It was a feel-good, community event for a fantastic cause, and I felt privileged to be asked to be part of it!” 

Thank you to Mrs Fox and Miss Pemberton for the following report: 

“Our A Level and GCSE Annual Dance Showcase was a wonderful celebration of our students’ hard work, creativity and achievements. Performing at The Georgian Theatre Royal, our cohorts delivered a memorable final showcase to an audience of staff, friends and parents, highlighting the dedication and passion they have shown throughout their courses. 

We are incredibly proud of everything these students have accomplished. It has been a privilege to watch them develop not only as dancers, but as confident, expressive young people. This year’s group is moving on to a range of exciting next steps, with some heading to prestigious dance conservatoires and others pursuing different pathways beyond school. 

We have truly loved supporting them on their journey and seeing their growth over the years. They leave us with fantastic memories, and we wish them every success in the future.” 

Jorge Lumley is a Year 11 student at Richmond, currently preparing for her GCSE exams and her planned move to sixth form college next year. She also happens to be an elite level U17 netball player, playing regular fixtures for her team Leeds Rhinos (North East) country-wide in the U17 NPL – Netball Performance League, as well as playing Premier League netball for her club, Oaksway Netball Club, Hartlepool. It’s been over a year since we published an article about Jorge’s netball, so we thought it was high time for an update. 

RS: The last article we published was about a narrow victory in a game Leeds Rhinos (North East) played against one of the strongest teams in the NPL – Pulse Power. Are you still playing for the same team? 

JL: Yes – I'm in the U17 Leeds Rhinos Pathway squad – they're a franchise team. 

RS: What does that mean? 

JL: The ten teams that play in the Netball Super League are all franchise teams. Each team has a Super League team, then a Next Gen team, a U19 team, a U17 team – that's where I am now, and a U15 team. When I started three years ago, I was in the development squad and didn’t quite make it into the U15 first team, then the next season I made it into the U17 team proper. That’s when we were called North East Phoenix, before we were taken over by Leeds Rhinos. I stayed on the bench for that season, until the end when I played at the School Games in Loughborough for the U15 side. That was such a good team – we were all best friends and one of top coaches came down for the competition – we came sixth out of twelve – the best a north east team had ever done in that competition. That was just before we were taken over by Leeds Rhinos. 

RS: Ok, so that’s two seasons with North East Phoenix, then you played in the U17 NPL team for Leeds Rhinos – that was last February when we published the article about the Pulse Power game? 

JL: Yes - we did really well that season – I think we came fifth in the league. We played in an NPL tournament at the end of that season and didn’t do so well – we had a good first day then didn’t maintain it. I missed the last day of Year 10 for that tournament – all my friends went to a party on that Friday and I was in Nottingham! 

RS: Ok – was that the end of the season? 

JL: No. In August I captained the U15 team in a tournament with my friends Millie and Rosie. We didn’t have the best weekend performance-wise, but it was a really big learning curve for us. Quite a few of the girls in the team were playing franchise netball for the first time, so we just tried to show them what high-level netball was like and give them a positive weekend – we've retained some of those players in the U17 team this season. 

RS: Ok – let's talk about this season – I've got the website with the fixtures, results and current league standings here. It looks like you’ve had a tough season! 

JL: Yes – we came second to last in the league. We lost some of our Year 12 players to the U19 team this season, because of the way the age rules work, so we had quite an inexperienced team. We’ve had a couple of good games, though. Round one against our sister team, Leeds Rhinos (Yorkshire), was one – we were losing by about ten points at half time and ended up winning 52-50. Round two was a bit different, though – a big defeat to London Mavericks – five of their players went to the England trials. 

RS: But the London Mavericks must have a much bigger pool of players to pick from, compared to a north east team? 

JL: Yes, definitely. In the north east there are two main club teams – Oaksway and Grangetown, but in London there are way more teams. You can tell because all their players are about 6 foot two - they can almost select players based on their physical attributes, then train them how to play good netball! 

We had a run through the middle of the season where we didn’t do so well, and our confidence dropped a bit, though we did beat Cardiff Dragons recently – they gave us a good game. We’re developing, though. 20 players train, then 12 play at each match. Seven start, with five on the bench. I started every game last season and this season too. I also had the opportunity to train and play for the U19s in London against the Mavs – I didn’t think I’d get on, but ended up playing for over two quarters. That was amazing – their goal keeper, who I was playing against, frequently plays for their Next Gen team and has even played Super League. You could tell she was a proper netballer – tall and athletic – it really showed me the difference between U17 and U19 netball! I was out of my comfort zone because I was playing goal shooter not goal attack, and she was so hard to play against. I scored some goals, though, and really enjoyed it - I could have played for another hour! One of the best netball experiences I’ve ever had. 

RS: That sounds like a real highlight! Have there been others this season? 

JL: Yes – there've been highlights with my club, too – Oaksway Netball Club. I went to the U16 nationals with them last May. I also had my Prem debut.  

RS: Explain what that is? 

JL: It’s the club league structure, rather than the franchise teams. Premier 1, 2 and 3, then Regional 1 and 2, then U16, U15 etc. We’re in Prem 2 but also have teams in Regional 1 and 2. I started playing for the Regional 2 team a bit ago but was recently asked to play for the Regional 1 team. As I was walking out of the sports hall after that match, the Prem coach asked if I wanted to play for the Prem team the next day – Sunday - it was a bit of a whirlwind! I didn’t get on in that game – in Blackpool - but it was a great experience. These Prem players are amazing – because they’ve been playing together for so long, they just know where each other are on the court – brilliant to watch! I sat on the bench for another game, then got my debut against Bristol Romans in February – I'd only just turned 16. It was a home game – we have one of the best home crowds in Prem 2 netball – the spectators fill out our sports hall. I remember jogging out and it was such a good atmosphere, everyone cheering for me, especially the younger players at the club. I was on for three quarters and played some good netball with my friend Ava Parnaby – we've got a really good connection. The level was a real step up – they play really smart and don’t run around as much as in that U19 NPL game in London – a different type of netball. 

Our Prem team hasn’t done so well this season, in fact we’ll be in Prem 3 next season. But we really pride ourselves on our home-grown talent. Our Prem team’s average age is only 20 and they’re players who we’ve developed through the club – that's why we’ve got such a good home crowd! 

I played more Prem games after that Bristol game – some quite physical games with some great players – Trafford's back two play for the Ugandan national team and one of our team has recently debuted for the Leeds Rhinos Super League team. Brilliant to be playing with such amazing people! 

The last game of the Prem league was in London against Cumberland – we lost again, but one of our U14 players debuted – home grown talent again! That’s what we’ll be focusing on next season in Prem 3 – making sure as much home-grown talent comes through as possible. 

RS: And what’s next – obviously your GCSEs in the short term, but what about after that? 

JL: College next year to do PE, Psychology and Business, hopefully. And then with my netball, short term I want us to do well in this upcoming U17 NPL tournament in June. Then next season – I'd like to try to get into the U17 Leadership Group at Leeds Rhinos. I’d like to train with the U19s a bit more and just raise my netball level. I need to take opportunities and get as much exposure as I can – hopefully I can get selected for the Oaksway Prem team again. Longer term, I’ve got ambitions to play in the Netball Super League, and maybe even get myself on the list of players being looked at for England trials in Loughborough – that's a way I could get to travel with my netball – I'd love to do that. 

RS: Thanks for giving us such a passionate and enthusiastic insight into your netball, Jorge – you obviously love it! All the best with your GCSEs, college next year and with your continued success on the netball court. 

A short clip of Jorge and her team in action at a recent U15 National Academies Tournament when she captained the side against the Scotland U15 national team can be found at the link below: 

https://youtu.be/JxyPj4Mmc7M 

Richmond Sixth Form College Year 13 students are currently deep in the midst of planning their next steps, be that applying for University and Higher Education, heading into training by applying for an apprenticeship, or taking time out to gain experience before moving on later. Every time a student receives an offer of a place, it’s a success story, but when a student receives an offer from one of the most exclusive institutions in the country, it’s worth digging a little deeper. We recently heard that Ellie Hughes had received an offer from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art – LAMDA – a fantastic achievement. We caught up with her to find out a bit more about the process. 

RSFC: Congratulations on receiving an offer from LAMDA. Why did you apply? 

EH: I’ve always known of LAMDA as one of the big drama schools in the country, but it always felt as though it was something I could never do because it’s so hard to get in. I usually go with my brain rather than my heart – do something sensible and not out of reach. 

RSFC: Ok, but you’re an actor studying Theatre Studies, Media and English – stereotypically, someone like you would go with their heart rather than their head! 

EH: Actually, in media and the performing arts, you have to be very analytical. It’s such a competitive field; you have to think very carefully about things to be successful. Plus, they do two undergraduate courses at LAMDA – Professional Acting and Production and Technical Arts: Stage and Screen. I applied for the second one. I love acting, but being behind the scenes and the camera and the creativity involved there is what I'm passionate about – that's where my heart comes in! 

RSFC: So, going back – what made you apply, even though you thought you were unlikely to be successful? 

EH: I was super–organised at the start of Year 13. My personal statement was ready to go, and I had my list of universities to apply for. We were encouraged to apply for five and the title of the course at LAMDA suited me so perfectly, I thought I might as well just give it a go - you never know! 

RSFC: Ok, so you applied – what happened next? 

EH: The first email I received from them said that they thought I’d applied for the wrong course! My personal statement did mention the brilliant work experience I’d done at the Trimble Group in Year 12, working behind the scenes with the veterinary educational videos they make. The statement included quite a lot of information about my acting experience, though, so I guess that’s why they got in contact. After a bit of a panic and help from Mr Hedley, we sorted it out! 

RSFC: Ok, so then did you get called for an interview? 

EH: No, definitely not yet! I received offers from my other four quite quickly, but LAMDA took ages. I basically thought I’d missed out – according to the information I Googled, around 3000 people apply for the 30 places, and they ask 150-200 people in for interview. I still had a glimmer of hope, though – waiting to hear over Christmas was torture! 

In January I received an email from them with 

Thanks to Mrs McFall for the following report: 

Richmond and SFX U15s girls served up a thriller that had just about everything. Both sides came out firing, trading early goals in what quickly became a fierce midfield battle. Every time Richmond found the net, SFX hit back just as fast, keeping the first half tight and full of momentum swings. 

After the break, the game dipped slightly for Richmond, and SFX took advantage, pushing ahead to 5–3. But Richmond refused to fold. They dug in, showed real grit, and clawed their way back to 5–5, setting up a dramatic finish. 

When it came down to penalties, Grace Baleilekutu stepped up at the biggest moment. She produced a brilliant save on a crucial spot‑kick, sealing the shootout and securing the win for Richmond. 

A fantastic contest overall — competitive, respectful, and a great showcase of determination from both teams. 

Goals from: 

2x Chloe Hollins 

2x Freya Atkinson  

1x Chloe Hanratty. 

We recently heard from Joanne Delaidriti, mum of Year 11 student Isaiah, that Isaiah and fellow Year 11 student Josh Drought had recently been selected for the Newcastle Red Bulls Rugby Union Academy. She gave us information about the hard work they put into their rugby, the training they had been doing at Newcastle and Billingham and the development games they had recently taken part in. She encouraged us to speak to the boys if we wanted more information – we definitely did! 

RS: Congratulations on being selected for the Newcastle Red Bulls Academy! When and how did you find out? 

JD: I received an email from Keith, the head of the academy, about a month ago. It said that I had made a 35-player squad which will play some games leading into the summer, then we’ll find out if we’ve made the next stage of the academy. 

RS: Tell us a bit about those games you mention. 

JD: There’s a festival in Warwick where we play against other academies that are the same level as us – Northampton and Bath, for example. Then there’s a game against Sale Sharks academy at Keighley, then we go up to Edinburgh to play some Scottish academies. 

ID: These games are to showcase and develop academy talent from the different clubs across the country, as well as being part of the selection process for the U17 academy. Before then we’ve got a training camp at Barnard Castle – mainly to train for those games. 

RS: So, just clarify which stage of the academy set-up you’re at now. 

ID: The U16s, which is where we are now, are called the U16 Academy Foundation and that leads into the academy at U17 – we'll find out whether we make the U17 academy in the summer. The fact that we’re in the U16s is a good start, but it’ll still be really competitive to make the U17s. 

RS: And how does it feel to be at the door of this amazing opportunity? 

JD: Exciting! We haven’t been here before and to be playing these other academy teams is going to be really good. 

ID: Even at training now – the standard is so high – we're playing and training with some amazing players. 

RS: Tell us a bit more about your training – Isaiah, your mum mentioned Newcastle and Billingham in her email? 

JD: So, the U16s are split into three regional areas – we're Durham South, and we did our training at Billingham. Now that the 35-player squad has been selected from players from all three regions, we now train at Newcastle twice a week – Mondays and Thursdays. We’ve only been training there for two weeks so far. 

RS: Ok – so we’ve talked about your rugby now, but to get here you’ve obviously been playing for a long time to build up the skills and experience that you have now. Take us back to the start of your rugby and tell us a bit about the journey up to now. 

JD: I started when I was about four at Mowden – I've played there my whole life. Then in Year 9 I started playing regional rugby for South Durham, then after two years there, I’ve managed to get into the Red Bulls. 

RS: So, Darlington Mowden Park is the club that’s shaped you as a player? 

JD: Yes, definitely. 

RS: And you, Isaiah? 

ID: So, I started out playing rugby league when I was six – with Catterick Crusaders. We moved out to Cyprus for a bit, and played no rugby at all, then when we came back, my older brother Elijah was playing union for Mowden. I really wanted to follow him there, so when I was 13, I made the change and joined Mowden. I wasn’t so good at this point, so didn’t make the regional squad in Years 9 or 10. 

RS: So, that’s interesting that you changed from league to union, Isaiah – do you think you’ve still got a bit of league in you when you play now?! 

ID: I like to think so, yes – my footwork comes from the time I spent playing league, I think. I struggled a bit at the start, when I changed – I gave away quite few penalties because the tackling in league is a bit higher than in union, but I had a good year in the U14s. I started to fit in and play good rugby. At the start of Year 11 I was selected for the regional squad and then the Red Bulls where I am now. 

RS: Getting into the Red Bulls is obviously a highlight of your rugby so far, but can you tell us about any other high points? 

JD: Probably for both of us, I think – the County Cup final last year... 

ID: ...yes, definitely! We were two tries down and I managed to score a decent try to get us back in the game. 

RS: Was that the game that ended 27 all – it sounded like an amazing match! 

JD: It really was – a tough game - very close as well. We’d beaten Durham earlier on in the season, then they’d beaten us, then we drew in the final. 

ID: Also, a more recent highlight was beating Gateshead 45-12 in a friendly. They had just won the County Cup – we were in the Plate because we’d lost the first game we played – we struggled for players at the start of the season so weren’t as strong as we are now. 

RS: And what about challenges you’ve faced? 

JD: I remember in Year 7 and 8, the club found it hard to get a good side out – we struggled for numbers a bit and didn’t do so well. 

ID: When I was younger, I struggled with my confidence a bit, and that really affected my performance. The club was struggling for number in the U13s, as Josh said, so that was quite hard. 

RS: Ok, but you got through those more difficult time to where you are now. Tell us about you as a player – where do you play and what are your strengths? 

ID: So, usually I play full back or number 10 for the club, but the Red Bulls have switched me to number 9 – scrum half. I had quite a brutally honest conversation with the head coach who basically said I lacked the height to be a full back and would be better at scrum half – I was a bit reluctant at first, but I’m enjoying it now. I think my strengths are my footwork and my passing. 

JD: I think my strengths are my speed and my finishing ability. I’ve been playing on the wing for the academy, and I play outside centre for the club. 

RS: And what about school rugby? Obviously, Year 11s are concentrating on their GCSEs now, but have you played much rugby in Year 10 or 11? 

ID: We played yesterday! It was a really tough game against Risedale – the level is quite different from what we usually play, so it was challenging – good fun, though. 

JD: I didn’t play yesterday, but last year we had a strong combined Year 10 and 11 team. We won a couple of 7s tournaments in the area and beat Queen Ethelburga’s school. 

RS: OK – so what’s next for your rugby – I guess concentrating on the development games and doing the best you can to get into the U17 Red Bulls academy? 

JD: Yes, exactly. We’re also both going to Bede Sixth Form College next year – they've got good links with the Newcastle academy, and their rugby is really strong. 

RS: And what do you plan to study at Bede? 

ID: I’m doing a diploma in Uniformed Public Services with a goal of joining the RAF... 

JD: ...and I’m doing A Levels – probably business, history and geography and maybe university afterwards, but I’m not sure yet. 

RS: Thank you for giving us such an excellent insight into your rugby, Josh and Isaiah. All the very best with the Red Bulls academy, with your GCSEs, Bede Sixth Form College and the future! 

Note: We know that Darlington Mowden Park RFC is by no means the only local rugby club giving students the foundation that they need to progress to the highest levels of rugby. If anyone has any similar stories involving Richmond students past or present, please send them to us – we love celebrating the success of our students!