A student at Newsome Academy – described by his head teacher as a “true superstar” – has been awarded a scholarship to prestigious Eton College.

Gaganpal Singh, head student at Newsome Academy, has secured a Sixth Form Scholarship through the Eton Orwell Award.

The scheme, named after Old Etonian George Orwell, provides fully-funded places to talented young people whose life opportunities have been limited.

Gaganpal, who lives with his parents and three sisters, has overcome many hardships in his childhood.

In 2013 his father was diagnosed with colon cancer and his mother had a brain tumour resulting in a loss of vision.

Gaganpal cared for and supported his parents and siblings through their most challenging times and has gone on to excel at school.

Head teacher Dean Watkin said: “This is an amazing success for Gaganpal and so very well deserved.

“Gaganpal is a true superstar and is, without doubt, one of the most inspirational young people I have had the privilege to work with in my career so far.

“He is a young man who wears a constant smile, has a thirst for knowledge and strives for success and excellence in everything he does. Newsome Academy is so very proud of him.”

Gaganpal is head student at the school and leader of the Democracy Group and is an accomplished public speaker.

He is also a maths tutor to disadvantaged young people in the community and, away from school, he volunteers at a Barnardo’s charity shop and is a member of the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara community initiative.

Gaganpal, whose hobbies include reading, listening to classical music and martial arts, also played a pivotal role in the development of the academy’s Relationships, Health and Sex Education curriculum sequencing.

Gaganpal will take up his place at Eton next year subject to achieving his predicted GCSE grades.