Ethan joined Ballard in Year 9. During his time here, he served as Head Boy and took the lead role in Guys and Dolls.
He achieved outstanding GCSE results, securing all grades between 9 and 7, including one 9, four 8s and four 7s.
Ethan now attends Barton Peveril College, where he is studying A-Level Geography, Maths, and Business.
Inspired by his introduction to the Performing Arts at Ballard, he has since begun singing lessons, while continuing his piano and violin studies.
“They Saw Something in Me.”
When Ethan delivered his Head Boy end-of-year speech, it was a powerful, heartfelt reflection on transformation, belonging, and the kind of education that shapes lives.
“From the very beginning, I was welcomed with warmth, respect and most importantly, a genuine sense of belonging.” He realised that “Ballard wasn’t just any ordinary school – it was a place where people saw who you could be, even when you couldn’t quite see it yourself.” It is a sentiment echoed by many who choose Ballard not just for its academic strength, but for its culture of care and encouragement.
Ballard, Co-Educational School of the Year, is known for its balance of academic excellence, over 155 weekly co-curricular activities and a proactive pastoral approach that ensures every child is seen and supported. Hearing how this impacts a pupil from their perspective is powerful:
“Opportunities have not just shaped my experience here but also have underlined the person who stands before you today… Most memorable for me was stepping into the world of Performing Arts after persistent, and I stress the word persistent, encouragement to audition for Guys and Dolls. I thought Mrs Gray was joking. I mean, me? Singing? In public? Somehow, she saw something I hadn’t yet seen in myself, and I was awarded the lead role. Now if that doesn’t show that you could do anything, then I have no idea what does.”
More than that, “I got to be part of something magical.” Ballard, he said, “gave me the confidence not just to survive new experiences, but to thrive in them and to grow into the best version of myself along the way… I will always remember that show. Not just for the lights and laughs, but for the friendships, the teamwork, the missed lines and even the crazy dance moves. Because that is Ballard at its best – creative, united and a little bit chaotic.”
His speech was not just about personal growth. It was about community. “Ballard is a school that looks outwards,” he said. “We are not just about grades, performance or trophies, but instead we are about kindness, service, community and doing what is right.”
