Michael Staniforth

This week we are catching up with Michael Staniforth, former Standish High School and Winstanley College student who now works as a Mechanical Design Engineer at the world’s foremost Fusion Research Laboratory in Oxfordshire. 

Michael attended Winstanley from 2011 – 2013 studying Maths, Chemistry, Physics and Fine Art. Michael also made the most of the enrichment opportunities available to him, including participating in an Engineering Careers Day, a visit to CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) and achieved the Silver Award for participation in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge.

Upon completion of his A Levels, Michael went on to study an Integrated Master’s Degree with an Industrial Placement Year at Aston University (in Mechanical Engineering). For his research project, Michael developed a Desalination Machine to help farmers in a Middle Eastern Valley gain access to fresh water. (Desalination is a process that takes away mineral components from saline water and makes it safe for us to drink).

The Industrial Placement element of Michael’s course involved working at Cummins Power Systems in Northamptonshire, where he designed Diesel Engine Components and Mechanical Systems. This was a full-time working placement for one year, after which Michael interned with the company over the summer of 2017. Once qualified in 2018, Michael began working for the company as a Graduate Engineer. At present, Michael is working at the UK Atomic Energy Authority as a Mechanical Design Engineer delivering the ‘holy grail’ of energy production: Fusion Energy. Michael tells us to think of what he does as ‘developing tiny bits of the core of the Death Star or Tony Stark’s Arc Reactor!’.

In future, Michael wishes to become a certified Chartered Engineer and assist with – and lead parts of - the design of Fusions Power Plants so he can see them come to life during his career. Hopefully, the need to use Fossil Fuels and harmful Nuclear Power Plants to produce the world’s energy will be eliminated by 2050! It’s also completely possible that Fusion may help make long distance space travel possible. In Michael’s own words: ‘Sometimes, Science-Fiction influences Science-Fact.’

When asked what advice he would give to students thinking about studying at Winstanley, Michael said:

‘Now you're out of school you have way more time, don't waste it! This is a great time to focus on what you really love rather than what you have to learn at school. I went on Winstanley’s CERN Visit and there was something awe inspiring about the place which probably inspired my current job. If you get an opportunity to do something you love, take it, don't let them slip. Up until now you've been told that grades matter, but not everyone will go to an Oxbridge university and your passion will take you far.’