A classroom failure has been catapulted to the verge of TV stardom after joining a Brad-ford theatre school.

Jack Shepherd, 11, was two years behind his classmates in reading and struggled to concentrate during lessons.

But after landing TV roles through the Stage 84 theatre school he shocked his parents and teachers by catching up with classmates.

Jack's mother Janet Shepherd, of Crawshaw Avenue, Pudsey, said: "We didn't realise until we saw his report last year just how badly he was doing. All his subjects said 'cause for concern' and teachers said he was switched off in class. He'd got a reputation as a bit of a failure.

"I found out about Stage 84 from a friend and we took him along to the summer school. By the second day I was told he was extremely talented and he was being put forward for TV parts."

Since joining the stage school in Town Lane, Idle, Jack has appeared in Granada TV's Where the Heart Is with former Coronation Street actress Sarah Lancashire and police drama serial City Central.

He has landed a part in the forthcoming ITV children's programme Wilmot, and he stunned his mother when he won first prize for a reading made at musical and dramatic arts festival in Huddersfield. He has also got a part playing the son of a policeman in a Granada Television drama about the Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe. Mrs Shepherd said: "The change has been amazing.

"He was two years behind his classmates with reading and I even took him to the doctor because I thought he might be a bit deaf."

Stage 84 principal Valerie Jackson said: "When he first arrived I thought he doesn't look happy but within two days he was really enjoying it. He has a natural acting ability and now he can read scripts his problems are going."

Adrian Stygall, headteacher of Greenside Primary School in Pudsey, said Jack's confidence and self-esteem had been boosted by his involvement with acting.

He said: "His reading and English are better though he still struggles a bit with maths."

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