Dyslexia School's Archery Star Takes Aim at Olympics 2028

Archery star Edward Gray who recently passed his GCSEs at Maple Hayes Dyslexia School is taking aim for the Olympics

 An archery star who has overcome the odds in his battle with dyslexia is taking aim for the Olympics.

 Edward Gray, who has just passed his GCSEs at Maple Hayes Dyslexia School in Lichfield, is celebrating his double success in his studies and picking up gold for Archery at a recent week-long event.

The 16-year-old rising star recently triumphed at the Archery GB Youth Festival, where his exceptional performance earned him a gold medal in the Youth Festival Recurve Under 18 Men category, as well as a gold medal in the Recurve Under 18 Men Team event and a Bronze medal in the Under 18 Mixed Team event.

Held at the Lilleshall National Sports and Conferencing Centre (NSCC) in Shropshire in the summer, the Archery GB Youth Festival brought together young archers from across the country to compete in a week-long competition.

Edward's achievements further shone on the international stage, as he represented England in the Commonwealth Cup Mixed Team event, contributing to England's victory in the cup.

His accomplishments are not limited to his success in archery. Having recently received his GCSE results, Edward's journey at the specialist school for dyslexia, Maple Hayes Dyslexia School, has been nothing short of inspiring as he prepares to start at University College Birmingham to study Finance and Marketing.

Edward's journey at Maple Hayes Dyslexia School began in Year 7 when he was 11 years old and had a reading age of six and despite facing challenges associated with dyslexia, Edward's determination has propelled him to the 17th position in the world archery rankings for the Under 18 Men’s category at the world championships held in Limerick earlier this year.

 His mum Sharon, herself a former novice archer and who introduced him to the sport, said it was the transformative impact of Maple Hayes that helped Edward with his confidence.

 Sharon, who lives in Coleshill, Birmingham said: "Maple Hayes encouraged Edward to believe in himself and thrive. They provided the support he needed, and I am incredibly proud of his achievements, both academically and in sports. The teaching staff are fantastic and their ethics and ability to help our children learn are brilliant. For a child with dyslexia they have helped him to thrive and we are so proud of him and thankful to their help in believing in him."

 Dr Daryl Brown, Headteacher at Maple Hayes said: “Edward’s exceptional achievements at the Archery GB Youth Festival 2023 showcase the remarkable determination and talent that he embodies. Overcoming challenges and excelling on such a prestigious platform is a testament to his unwavering dedication. Edward's journey exemplifies the transformative impact of our school, where we provide an environment that nurtures individual strengths and fosters resilience. 

“As he sets his sights on the Olympics in a few years time, we shall continue to cheer him on with our support as we did when he first stepped through our doors. His achievements continue to inspire us all and remind us that with determination, anything is attainable. We are immensely proud of Edward's accomplishments and wish him all the success in his future endeavours. We hope that his story motivates others to pursue their aspirations with the same vigour and enthusiasm. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for him," he added.