A young musician from Packwood Haugh School in Ruyton XI Towns is celebrating after winning a place at the Junior Academy of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

Twelve year-old Joseph Bowdler performed well throughout a rigorous and highly competitive audition process to become the third Packwood pupil in recent times to gain a place at this prestigious school.

He follows in the footsteps of Daniel Garrett and Rowena Jones.

Packwood’s Head of Music, Sarah Boutwood, added: “The RNCM’s Junior Academy is a Saturday school for particularly promising young musicians and places are highly sought after.

"We are very proud that another Packwood pupil has won a place. Joseph will be specialising in piano on which he is working on Grade 6 and guitar working on Grade 5, having gained distinctions in his Grade 5 and 4 exams respectively."