Case studies - Ben Williams

Ben Williams, 15, attends Wade Deacon High School in Merseyside.

“I first came to Wade Deacon High School in 2003 and am now in my final year. The main sport I play is cricket, and I’ve been playing since I was 7. My first real training in cricket was at Widnes Cricket Club and I’ve played at the club ever since, representing my school and Cheshire County. At Cheshire, I scored a total of 13 fifties and one century. When playing for the under 15’s I was selected to play for North of England at The Bunbury Festival. In total in my cricketing career I’ve scored 10 centuries and 53 fifties.

“At school I was made Prefect and Head Boy at the end of Year 10. These roles gave me many opportunities to build my confidence, for example I’ve spoken publicly to an audience of 500 which I found very useful. During Year 11 I had to start thinking about options for college. Many of my coaches had recommended me to apply to Shrewsbury School as it’s very good both academically and cricketing. I applied for a full scholarship of fees, which over the two years at the school would cost £48,000. I had to undertake tests in my chosen A level subjects and a trial at cricket. Also applying for the same single scholarship was a Great British Rower, Belgium International cricketer and a Tranmere Rovers academy footballer. Fortunately I was successful in achieving the scholarship and start at the school in September 2008 for two years. From this I hope to go onto a UCCE university and play professional cricket.

“In my GCSE’s I hope to achieve all A/A* grades in all subjects. I hope this will set me up in later life to go onto a good career if I’m unsuccessful in cricket.

“My best achievement is that I became the youngest player to score a 1st X1 century in the Cheshire Premier League and received an award for it. I took this record away from ex-England and Hampshire player John Crawley who was 16, and at the time I was 14.

“When I’m at Shrewsbury School I’ll will be part of a team going to South Africa in December for a cricket tour in Cape Town.”