TALENTED singer Rubie Riach has reached a crescendo after obtaining top grades before appearing in London’s West End. The 16-year-old achieved her GCSEs ahead of performing in Across the Line, which is due to see the curtain rise in September at His Majesty’s Theatre. “I have been performing since I was young and love musical theatre,” said Rubie, who will next study acting for stage and screen at the Northern School of Art. “I’m a member of the Pauline Quirk Academy in Middlesbrough, after starting singing in the choir at primary school. “St Michael’s has been very supportive of my music, I’ve been in talent shows and musicals and I’d love to end up on the stage one day somewhere.”
The writing is on the wall for Niamh Poppleton who has achieved her GCSEs despite a health condition which leaves her living in constant pain. The 16-year-old was diagnosed with the incurable chronic pain syndrome and struggles to write. But with the support of her school she achieved impressive grades. She said: “It started when I was 11 and they thought it was arthritis as my fingers started swelling and the bones looked disjointed. “I am in constant pain so it’s about learning how to manage it as there is no cure. I just have to try and ignore it most of the time. It’s about nerves in the brain not receiving signals properly so they think everything is painful.” The action of writing exacerbates the condition and Niamh was allowed to use a laptop in her exams and given rest periods. “I have loved the teachers here as they have been really supportive,” she said. She will now study A levels in English literature, philosophy and history before reading a degree in English and history and taking a masters in creative writing, as she pursues her dream of becoming a writer. “I enjoy gothic fiction and would love to be an entertainments journalist and author,” she said. Niamh already writes for Narc arts magazine and has her own blog Poppletonink.
Aspergers and ADHD proved to be no barrier to success as a young musician collected a brace of GCSEs for which he had high praise for the school that helped him. Sonny Edmenson gained 11 GCSEs and is now looking forward to studying A levels in maths, economics and art at college, “I never let anything define me and I wouldn’t be defined my diagnoses,” said the 16-year-old who plays violin and piano and has recently returned from a music tour of Spain with the 96 piece Tees Valley Youth Orchestra. “From day one I was treated normally at St Michael’s and I have flourished. Feelings of stress, anxiety and anger all stopped as soon as I arrived here.” Sonny plans to keep up with his music as a hobby and has been offered first violin next year with TVYO. He also composes classical music and is a concert master at Billingham Strings. “I have played at The Glasshouse in Gateshead and was invited by the Lord Lieutenant to play at Wynyard Hall which was incredible. The invitation came on a scroll of parchment. But music will only ever be a hobby and I’d like one day to work in high risk finance which should keep me on my toes.”
Young scientist Sam Green is hoping one day to put his talents to good use either catching criminals or in medical research. The 16-year-old, who helps run a young leaders troop, gained his GCSEs and now plans to study A levels in biology, chemistry, maths and further maths. “I’m interested in reading biochemistry or forensics at university as I’d like to make new medicines or help solve crimes,” he said.
Other success stories included: Matthew Boon, who secured his GCSEs despite living with autism and wants to work in cyber security; lifelong Boro fan and football manager hopeful Cole Owens; young carer Amelia Howson who now plans to study creative make-up and child care at college so she can work with young parents; Caitlin Slasor, who collected her GCSEs despite being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, a condition that threatened her life; and Chloe Hunton, who overcame her anxiety to achieve her GCSEs.