A PROMISING sports’ star whose talent has earned him a cricketing scholarship has been bowled over by his exam results.
Carmel College student Harry Crawshaw, 16, of, Norton, achieved nine grade 9s and one grade 8 in his GCSEs.
Batsman Harry, who currently plays for Hartlepool and Durham Cricket Club U-17s, will be taking up his scholarship in York in September alongside studying for his A levels.
The young sportsman began his career at Wolveston Cricket Club aged eight, scored an impressive 100 not-out aged 12 and played for Durham County Cricket Club from the age of 13.
“I played a bit of football from being quite young but it was always cricket that I preferred,” said Harry.
“I’d heard about the scholarship from friends, applied and was really pleased to be accepted. I hope now that I can go on and realise my dream of representing my country and emulate the career of Yorkshire and England cricketer Joe Root.”
Despite playing regular games, attending training sessions and touring with Durham County Cricket Club at a tournament in Dubai earlier this year, Harry still found time to complete all of his GCSE revision.
“I think I managed to balance my cricket commitments and revision quite well,” he said.
“I’m surprised to have done so well and I’m really happy with my results.”
Mum Sara, an RE teacher at Carmel College, added: “Harry’s attitude to do well in everything he does, makes us extremely proud.
“He put in a lot of hard work and effort and with support from the school has achieved some amazing results.”
Carmel College celebrated an outstanding year of results overall with students securing over 80 grade 9s.
Carmel College principal Mike Shorten said: “I am really delighted with yet another strong and solid performance across all of our departments.
“We have seen amazing results in maths with 90 per cent of students receiving a grade 4 to 9, 55 per cent of students who studied physics achieved a grade 7 to 9 and 40 per cent of RE students also gained a 7 to 9 grade which is outstanding”.
“We are well above the national average of 64 per cent for pupils achieving a grade 4 or above in English and Maths with an incredible 87 per cent and are leading the way on the new Government initiative to improve standards with two out of every three of our pupils achieving the new standard pass of a grade 5 or above.”
Chief Executive of the Carmel Education Trust which encompasses Carmel College, Darlington, St Michael’s Catholic Academy, Billingham and Our Lady of St Bede, Billingham, Maura Regan added her congratulations to students and staff.
“We have seen fantastic results this year across all schools within the Trust with over 190 grade 9s.
“Given the changes to the new grading system I am delighted to see the levels of hard work, strength and quality of teaching across all departments has paid off.
“The commitment of our staff is clear to see through their sheer euphoria with such a good set of results for our students.”