Newcastle teenager William Kirvan is celebrating a strong set of GCSE results today after two extraordinary years in which he qualified as one of Europe’s youngest Zumba instructors, raised more than £7,000 for a cancer support charity and stepped up to volunteer at his local football club while his mum underwent treatment for ovarian cancer.
The 16-year-old pupil at Dame Allan’s Schools achieved a string of eight grades 7-9, equivalent to A* and A under the previous grading system, and one grade 6. His three grade 9s were in Maths, English and English Literature.
“I’m really pleased with my results,” said William. “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!”
William’s GCSE years began in October 2024 when his mum, Belinda, was diagnosed with stage two ovarian cancer. While she underwent major surgery and five months of chemotherapy, William continued with his studies while developing his passion for Zumba.
He trained and qualified as a Zumba instructor at the age of 14 and went on to run his own classes.
He also organised two fundraising Zumbathons, raising a combined £7,095.81 for Maggie’s Newcastle at the Freeman Hospital – the cancer support charity which supported Belinda throughout 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 has also volunteered at Heaton-Stannington FC for several years, helping with matchday duties. When Belinda became ill and was unable to continue volunteering at the club, William took over running the shop.
He 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 contribution has earned him a place as a finalist for Northumberland FA’s Young Volunteer of the Year award, following more than 300 nominations. The winner will be announced next month.
Belinda, who underwent corrective surgery following her cancer treatment on the same day William was sitting one of his GCSE exams, has been given the all-clear and is now 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.”
Belinda has also continued her own fundraising efforts since her diagnosis.
This year’s Great North Run will be her 12th, having raised more than £14,000 for Cancer Research UK over the years. Her fundraising began after she lost her own mother to cancer when she was 17.
William, who has been at Dame Allan’s since nursery and will remain at the school for sixth form, plans to study History, Drama and Physics at A Level.
Belinda said Dame Allan’s had also been a constant source of support for William throughout his education, particularly during the past two years.
She said: “The school has been so supportive of William. 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.”
As he returned to school to collect his results, Belinda said the grades were just one part of what he had achieved over the past two years.
She 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.”
