Pupils at a Derby special school were given a glimpse into life on the fast track to success after hearing from deaf UK racing driver Caleb Mcuff, who shared his journey into motorsport.
The visit took place at The Royal School for the Deaf, where pupils, families and staff welcomed Caleb, who is recognised as the fastest deaf racing driver in the country. He delivered a powerful message about resilience, telling pupils that being deaf is part of who you are – but it does not define what you can achieve.
Caleb joined the school’s annual open day event, which celebrates achievement across the school community and brings families together for a day of activities, performances and recognition.
He competes at a competitive level in karting and circuit racing, continuing to develop his career through national and international events. Through consistent progression in a demanding sport, he is establishing himself within motorsport while helping to challenge perceptions about deafness in racing.
Speaking to pupils, Caleb reflected on the determination required to compete in a highly demanding and competitive environment.
He said: “It’s an honour to be here and share my story. If there’s one message I want pupils to take away, it’s that being deaf is part of who you are – but it should never define what you can achieve.
“In racing, things go wrong all the time. What matters is how you respond. I just kept showing up, kept learning and kept pushing forward.
“I was genuinely moved by the framed artwork a pupil created for me. The effort and thought behind it means a great deal to me, and it’s something I’ll always remember.”
In the lead-up to the event, pupils took part in a creative competition to design a personalised racing helmet for Caleb, with the winning design presented during the ceremony.
The day began with an awards assembly recognising pupils and staff for their achievements over the year, alongside speeches and performances from the school choir.
The open day also gave families the chance to enjoy stalls, games and fundraising activities across the school grounds, including sponge-the-teacher and traditional fairground-style games, with proceeds supporting school funds.
Guests included Derby Mayor Jonathan Smale, High Sheriff of Derbyshire Syed Iftikhar, and Deputy Lieutenant Theresa Peltier.
Jonathan Smale said: “This is my first visit to the school and I can immediately see why it is so highly regarded.
“Being here has been genuinely inspiring. It has made me want to learn sign language so I can better connect with the deaf community in Derby.
“I was surprised to learn that around 85% of deaf children are born into hearing families, and I think it’s outstanding the way this school teaches families British Sign Language and goes above and beyond to support them.
“The pupils are confident, resilient and achieving so much. They should be incredibly proud.”
Families also had the opportunity to tour the school, including the newly developed Orchard House building, designed to meet growing demand for places.
Headteacher Paul Burrows said: “We are extremely grateful to Caleb for taking the time to visit and share his story. He has shown our pupils that being deaf is not a barrier to achieving success at the highest level.
“It has been wonderful to welcome families into the school and celebrate everything our pupils have achieved. The sense of community here is something really special.
“Today is about recognising the hard work of pupils and staff throughout the year and celebrating the progress, resilience and achievements across our school.”
ENDS
This press release was distributed by Penguin PR. To find out more contact Sarah-Louise Elton on 01332 416228 or by email at [email protected]
