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Barney Results in Focus – Charlie Hoy

Congratulations to Charlie Hoy who is one step closer to realising his dream of becoming an army officer.

Charlie achieved the results he needed to take up a coveted British Army scholarship which will sponsor him through a History, Politics and Economics degree at university ahead of a four-year officer training course.

The 18-year-old improved on his already high predicted grades securing his first choice placement at Exeter University for September after which he will head to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Fewer than 100 scholarships are awarded each year with Charlie having endured an agonising seven-week wait after completing the selection process at Westbury. “That was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been,” explained Charlie. “Usually the wait for outcomes is shorter, but there were big numbers applying. As you would expect, the tests were physically and mentally draining.”

He explained the gruelling 48 hours AOSB involved a number of physical tests, including obstacle courses, endurance and strength tests, as well as a number of psychometric, personality and planning tests.

His mother and two sisters are currently in Kenya, with his father, who is also serving in the armed forces. Charlie added: “We’re not a huge ‘forces family’, but all of my memories of being young were of moving from place to place to follow my dad’s posting. It’ll be an honour to follow in his footsteps and I’d ultimately love to serve in the Parachute Regiment.”

Charlie’s foundations for a life in the forces came when he joined Barnard Castle School as a boarder in Year 9, immediately signing up to the school’s Combined Cadet Forces (CCF) programme. 

He explained: “Being an active part of CCF has taught me huge amounts about myself and given me confidence and assurance in all walks of life, not least in leadership and public speaking, traits I know have served me well through my education and which will be vital for my future.

Outgoing Headmaster at Barnard Castle School, Tony Jackson said: “Charlie is the embodiment of the types of individuals we try to nurture here at Barnard Castle School. He’s a warm, humble and extremely diligent young adult who is a credit to his family. Since arriving with us, he’s thrown himself fully into ‘Barney’ life as a boarder, not least with his impressive commitments to CCF, which have clearly reaped rewards.  

“We’re thrilled that Charlie will head to University in September knowing that all his hard work last summer at the scholarship selection process, and his determined studies since, has put him in the perfect position to launch his career serving this country. We’re all tremendously proud of him.”

To find out more about our CCF programme, please visit: CCF – Barnard Castle School