Student takes GCSE at 13

Josh Townsend recently sat his GCSE in Performing Arts, despite only being 13

Josh Townsend, a student at Wardle High School, is talented well beyond his years having recently just sat his GCSE in Performing Arts, despite only being 13.

Josh has completed his GCSE with Rossendale Dance and Drama Centre and is currently awaiting his results.

He has also recently achieved the Year 8 award for achievement in Drama at Wardle High School, which is being presented to him on 11 June.

Josh has been acting since January 2010 and has always enjoyed performing on stage. He currently attends the Rossendale Dance and Drama Centre, as well as being a member of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art ,where he sits exams every six months in drama, verse and pose. To date he has passed every exam with distinction. He has won many awards, including a trophy at the Burnley Speech and Drama Festival, first place for acting at the Blackpool Festival of Speech and Drama and he also won the Normanton Trophy at the Rochdale Youth Festival for his solo drama piece in 2011 and 2012.

Josh is always keen to get involved in school productions and last November played the part of Doody in the school’s production of Grease. In the original story, which the school performance was based on, Doody performs a solo song called ‘Magic Changes’ and Josh loved the opportunity to play a solo in the production.

Josh hopes to one day work in film, but he also has an interest in theatre work due to the interaction with the audience.

After completing his GCSEs and A Levels, Josh hopes to apply to either the University of Leeds or London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, to further his studies in drama.

Josh  said: "I enjoy doing drama in school very much. It is the subject I am most passionate about and the one I want to pursue when I leave school. It helps that I have such fantastic teachers in Mr Brown and Mr Lord. They really believe in me and help push and stretch me in class, so I continue to improve and develop. Wardle has helped me grow in confidence."