Budding pilot earns place on major course
There was even more good news for our budding pilot Alex Sharples recently.
The upper sixth pupil has made it to stage three of the Virgin Atlantic Training Programme, beating out more than 4,000 other applicants.
This feat ensures he is guaranteed a place at CTC Aviation, regarded as the top flying school in the country.
Things could get even better for the 18 year-old in the near future, as he is waiting to see if he has made stage four of the programme, which would mean that Virgin Atlantic would pay for his training and Alex would be guaranteed a job with the firm.
Only 130 applicants made it to stage three from 4,400 hopefuls, with just 60 places up for grabs at the highly sought after fourth stage.
Alex will learn of his fate at the end of February after undergoing a number of tests including Maths, aptitude and a group interview.
He said: “I am waiting very nervously to see if I have made it to stage four, but I have already beaten the odds to get this far and I have worked very hard, so hopefully it will be enough."
The 18 month course will see Alex spend six months initial training in Southampton, before spending the final year in New Zealand.