(Image: Kirvan Crest Photography)
A North East teenager is celebrating an outstanding set of GCSE results after balancing his studies with fundraising, volunteering and supporting his mother through cancer treatment.
William Kirvan, from Newcastle, achieved eight GCSEs graded 7–9, the equivalent of A* and A, and one grade 6.
The 16-year-old student at Dame Allan’s Schools earned grade 9s in maths, English and English literature.
Dame Allan's pupil William Kirvan with his mum Belinda
(Image: Kirvan Crest Photography)
William said: "I’m really pleased with my results. It’s been a busy two years, but I just got on with it.
"My GCSEs were a good distraction.
"I look back and think, ‘Oh, that’s happened’, but at the time I just kept moving on."
His mother, Belinda, was diagnosed with stage two ovarian cancer in October 2024, at the start of his GCSE studies.
Will Kirvan is celebrating a strong set of GCSE results at Dame Allan's Schools
(Image: Kirvan Crest Photography)
Throughout her treatment, which included major surgery and five months of chemotherapy, William continued with his studies and became one of Europe’s youngest qualified Zumba instructors at just 14.
He organised two fundraising Zumbathons, raising more than £7,000 for Maggie’s Newcastle, the cancer support charity based at the Freeman Hospital that helped his mother during her treatment.
William said: "Maggie’s was there for Mum when she was going through treatment, so I wanted to give something back.
"I thought Zumba was something I could use to raise money because I enjoy it. The Zumbathons were great fun."
William Kirvan is one of Europe's youngest zumba instructors
(Image: Kirvan Crest Photography)
He has also volunteered for several years at Heaton-Stannington FC, helping with matchday duties and later taking over the running of the club shop when his mother became too unwell to continue.
William said: "I just wanted to keep things going.
"Mum had been volunteering there, so when she couldn’t do it, I said I would."
His dedication led to him being named a finalist for Northumberland FA’s Young Volunteer of the Year award, selected from more than 300 nominations.
The winner will be announced in September.
Mrs Kirvan has since been given the all-clear but is still undergoing regular monitoring.
She said: "William never used it as an excuse not to do something.
"He had his GCSEs, his Zumba, the fundraising and his volunteering.
"He just gets on with things.
"I’m incredibly proud of him."
She herself has continued to fundraise since her diagnosis and will take part in her 12th Great North Run this year.
Over the years, she has raised more than £14,000 for Cancer Research UK, a cause she began supporting after losing her own mother to cancer at the age of 17.
William, who has attended Dame Allan’s since nursery, will stay on at the school for sixth form and plans to study history, drama and physics at A-level.
Mrs Kirvan praised the support her son has received from Dame Allan’s throughout his education, especially during the past two years.
She said: "The school has been so supportive of William.
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"They have excellent pastoral care and they really nurture the whole person as well as the academic side.
"That has been important throughout his whole time at the school."
She said that as proud as she was of his results, they were just one part of what he had achieved.
Mrs Kirvan said: "He has achieved so much alongside his GCSE studies, and he has done it while our family has been through something incredibly difficult.
"Of course I’m hoping he gets the results he wants, but I’m already incredibly proud of him."