Heathfield Community College has received the fantastic news that Daisy Pietroni (Year 13) has been awarded an Army Officer sixth form scholarship. This means she has been recognised as possessing exceptional leadership potential and following her studies has secured a place to train as an Army officer at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.
This prestigious award includes bursary payments which mean all Daisy’s studies both at Sixth Form and at university, will be financially supported and she can focus on her future plans with a freedom to be as aspirational as she wishes. The recognition is a considerable achievement and follows years of hard work and dedication for Daisy who has shown herself to excel across a range of fields both in and out of College.
On receiving the award Daisy said “It is a great honour to have been awarded this scholarship. I am very grateful for everyone who has supported me. It’s been an exciting process, and I really look forward to taking my position at Sandhurst in a few years.”
Further to a raft of successful GCSE outcomes achieved at Claverham Community School Daisy is set to achieve well in her A Levels this summer. Her teachers describe her as “in the top quartile of her classes, often at the top of her classes, academically standing out from her peers in an exceptional manner. She is described as a brilliant student who is conscientious and committed with well-established independent learning skills and a high level of engagement.” Readily embracing challenge with a strong desire to understand the world around her, Daisy is a natural leader with a reputation for a calm and positive approach.
She has held leadership positions in her previous school including Level 2 Qualification in Community Sports Leadership and the post of Deputy Head Girl and Head of House alongside being a senior and college prefect. Since joining Heathfield Community College Daisy’s considerable potential for leadership has been apparent to all. She has spoken with ease to large audiences at our Open Evening as well as regular assembly delivery, as well as competing in the national finals of the public speaking Cranmer Awards 2023.
Daisy has also supported and shown leadership to younger students through mentoring, sports captaincies and via progression visits to talk to Year 11 at local schools. Daisy has also volunteered to support the Learning Support department (with our SEND students) and is an excellent mentor to Year 7 students, supporting them with transition to secondary school.
Daisy is currently working towards her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. She thoroughly enjoys the navigation and leadership components, which was also shown through her participation and completion of the Ten Tors Challenge 2022. The Gold Award expedition which will involve 5 nights wild camping with her team in the Lake District. Daisy has a love of sport, having been House Sports Captain and Football captain, representing her school at football, netball, rounders and table tennis. In the summer, she enjoys doing via ferrata in the mountains of the Alps and the Pyrenees. She also holds 3rd Kyo in Judo and volunteered at the judo pan-disability world championships in 2024 in the Netherlands.
Daisy is an exceptional role model, loving all outdoor activities available and throwing herself into new challenges wherever possible. She has been an enthusiastic and positive participant in College life. Headteacher Caroline Barlow, who recently passed on the award certificate and badge to Daisy, said, “it was an honour to be able to write Daisy’s reference for this award, I have no doubt that as well as being an exceptional role model throughout her time at College Daisy will continue to inspire young and old alike wherever she goes. She is a credit to herself and all those who have supported her journey, we are very proud that she has been able to shine her light on the College as she progresses onto what will be a brilliant future.”
