Schools Tour Launched With Pilot Visit To Willingdon Primary School, Eastbourne
Deaf Welsh racing driver Caleb McDuff, 18, has officially launched his new Schools Tour with a successful pilot visit to Willingdon Primary School in Eastbourne, East Sussex.
The visit marked the first step in a planned programme designed to inspire young people through motorsport, technology and inclusion, while showing that perceived barriers do not have to limit ambition or opportunity.
The Schools Tour was developed to give pupils a real-world insight into resilience, communication and teamwork. Willingdon Primary School hosted the first visit as a pilot, allowing the format to be tested and refined ahead of further schools being added across Wales and the wider UK.
The visit took place as part of the school’s Deaf Role Model programme, following an invitation from Gaea Thompson, Deaf Role Model Lead and Parent Workshop Facilitator, and Specialist Teaching Assistant within the Deaf Support Facility at Willingdon Primary School.
Caleb was born hearing but lost his hearing at the age of two following severe ear infections. He now uses bilateral cochlear implants.
He began racing at just six years old and competed for many years in complete silence, without any form of ship-to-shore communication. Only recently was a bespoke communication system developed, allowing Caleb to communicate directly with his race engineer — a breakthrough that has transformed how he can compete at higher levels of motorsport.
During the session, Caleb shared his journey into racing — from grassroots karting through to junior car racing and international competition — explaining how communication, teamwork and specialist technology now enable him to race despite being Deaf.
Pupils were given a behind-the-scenes insight into life as a racing driver, including racing equipment, preparation for competition, and the importance of confidence, belief and problem-solving.
Caleb has competed at international level in GT racing, including racing a McLaren GT4, where he achieved multiple podium finishes.
In 2024, he was named Deaf Sports Personality of the Year (Under 18) in recognition of his achievements on and off the track. Earlier this year, he also announced plans to step up to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, one of the UK’s most competitive championships and part of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) support package.
The session was delivered in a fully inclusive way, with accessible communication throughout and British Sign Language (BSL) support in place. Pupils were encouraged to ask questions, interact with racing equipment, and take part in one-to-one moments that made the experience both engaging and memorable.
Speaking after the visit, Caleb said:
“This was the first visit of the Schools Tour, and it was a brilliant way to start. The pupils were confident, curious and really engaged. Being Deaf hasn’t stopped me chasing my goals, and I hope today showed them that barriers don’t have to define what’s possible.”
Caleb’s father and manager, Ian McDuff, added:
“Willingdon Primary School provided the perfect setting for the pilot visit. Working with Gaea and the Deaf Support Facility allowed us to deliver the session in the right way, and the response from the pupils confirmed the value of what we’re building with the Schools Tour.”
Gaea Thompson, Deaf Role Model Lead at Willingdon Primary School, said:
“Meeting an inspirational Deaf role model like Caleb helps Deaf children to be aspirational and to build self-esteem and emotional skills. The children absolutely loved meeting Caleb, and we have certainly inspired some future racing drivers.”
The Schools Tour aims to visit both primary and secondary schools, using motorsport as a hook to explore wider themes including inclusion, communication, teamwork, engineering and technology. Each visit is designed to be interactive, accessible and tailored to the needs of individual schools and pupils.
Following the success of the pilot visit at Willingdon Primary School in Eastbourne, further Schools Tour visits are now being planned.
Schools and educators interested in hosting a Caleb McDuff Schools Tour visit can register their interest and request a booking via the education outreach form:
👉 https://calebmcduff.co.uk/contact-caleb/education-outreach-booking-request/
