Case study: ‘Now I can concentrate on preparing for the Paralympics’

AMONG those celebrating their results was Andrew Mullen, who received six A and two B passes.

The 16-year-old, who will represent Team GB at the upcoming Paralympic Games, will now go on to study for his Highers after completing his Intermediate 2 exams at Mearns Castle High School in East Renfrewshire.

While most teenagers were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the postman, Andrew was in training from 5:30am at the Elderslie pool in preparation for his appearance in the 50m butterfly, 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke later this month.

“I am very pleased as I have done much better than I expected,” he said. “My predicted grades were lower than what I got.

“I was hoping to get some As, but to get six is brilliant. Now I can concentrate on getting ready for the Paralympics.”

Andrew learned of his grades in Biology, Chemistry, English, Maths, French, Modern Studies, Administration and Product Design as he had breakfast with his parents, sister Eilidh, 13, and brother Euan, 8.

The teenager, who was born with shortened limbs and has his first race at the Paralympics on 30 August, added: “I am so grateful to Mearns Castle High, who have given me time to train and prepare for the Paralympics.

“It’s been difficult to balance my time between studies and swimming, but I think I have managed that pretty well.”

Andrew’s dad, Henry, added: “He has done really well and we are so proud of him. He is thinking about a career in sports science and he knows he will need to have a good academic grounding. Now we can look to the Paralympics.”

The young swimmer takes part in the freestyle event at the Olympic pool in Stratford before swimming again on 6 and 7 September,

His family will spend their annual holiday in a London hotel during the games, while Andrew will live in the Olympic Village.

Dean Smith, head teacher at Mearns Castle, said Andrew’s dedication to his studies and his sport had been an inspiration to his fellow pupils.

He said: “Andrew is a tremendous young man and we are all delighted with his sporting and academic success. Combining his studies with the rigorous training he needs to put in to represent the country is an inspiration to us all.”