Josh Madine gets music scholarship

An aspiring musician has won a place at a prestigious music school after getting top marks in his GCSEs. Find out how Josh got it, click Read more.
Streatham student secures music scholarship at top school

Joshua Madine, 16, of Kilmartin Avenue, Norbury, has been offered a scholarship to study music at St Paul’s School in Barnes. He scored nine A* grades, five A grades and one B grade as a pupil at the Bishop Thomas Grant School in Streatham Hill.

He said: "I am completely overwhelmed. I am glad that all my hard work has paid off. I studied almost every day for three months.

"I was a bit nervous but I think if you put the hard work in, you get the grades you deserve."

Joshua will receive free instrumental lessons when he enrols at St. Paul’s in September. Recent alumni include Winston Marshall from Mumford & Sons, and Charlie Fink from Noah and the Whale.

The talented schoolboy, who plays piano and clarinet, is a member of Norbury based choir Libera. The successful choral group have recorded film soundtracks, provided backing vocals for the likes of Cliff Richard and have performed all over the world, including singing for President George Bush. Despite his success, he said he will be sad to leave his current school.

He said: "I am going to miss it. It has been a great school. I have met loads of lovely people. The teachers have been great. But I am still going to be tied to the school because my sister goes here."

Headteacher Louis Desa congratulated Joshua on his success.

He said: "His achievements are richly deserved. He is involved in a lot of things outside of school as well, but he is quite a modest person.

"We are sad to lose him but he has obtained a scholarship to one of the top schools in the country and we have no doubt he will be highly successful as his new school."

In total, 69 per cent of students at Bishop Thomas Grant School achieved five A* to C GCSE grades including English and Maths, making the school the second most improved in Lambeth. Mr Desa thanked teachers, support staff, parents and the school governors for helping to achieve the results.

Joshua Madine will study at St Paul's School in Barnes from September