St Martin’s School pupil Ben Latchford, 17, endured years of stomach pains and extreme tiredness before his diagnosis with chronic anaemia and Crohn’s disease in October.
He has monthly infusions and persistent fatigue as a result, and has attended less than 80 per cent of his sixth form lessons.
But this did not stop him from securing B grades in A-level business and drama, a B in his extended project qualification, and a Distinction from The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
He is now heading to the University of Kent to study law, with the hope of becoming a barrister.
Ben said: “My health issues have been going on since before my GCSEs, which started with stomach pains and extreme tiredness.
“As a result, my attendance has been below 80 per cent; I basically missed a day a week throughout my A-levels.
“That was quite hard.”
Ben has credited the support of his “really good” teachers for his success, adding: “My teachers were my biggest help, going out of their way to help me out in their personal time.
“They adapted their support to what I needed and enabled me to continue.”
