This is Leicestershire --Rachael Clarke lay close to death in a hospital bed three months before her GCSEs started. The 16-year-old, of Northfields, Leicester, had pneumonia and spent six weeks under medical supervision after doctors found blood clots on her lungs and heart.
"I was close to death. I never thought I'd be here today," she said as she nervously opened her exam results at Hamilton Community College yesterday.
"It was a scary time and, to be honest, I wasn't really thinking about my GCSEs."
But she notched up seven A to C grades and has enrolled on a hair and beauty course.
Although Rachael was coy about her achievement, head teacher John Morris was happy to sing her praises.
"She was very ill and there was a point when we didn't know if she was going to make it," he said.
"To come back and get these results is phenomenal."
Fellow Hamilton pupil Martin Adamski, 16, arrived in Leicester in 2008 from Chorzow, in Poland.
"I had never spoken English before then," he said. "For the first half of the year, I could understand people but not talk to them."
Martin got an A in English language, A*s in Polish and French and a distinction in music.
Overall, results at Hamilton improved from 43 per cent gaining A* to C grades including English and maths last year to 50 per cent this year.
Despite results dropping at Babington Community College, in Beaumont Leys, head teacher Denise Newsome said she was proud of her pupils.
Among them was Ansaf Khumayoom, 16, who arrived in Leicester from Kerala, India. He said: "It was hard leaving my friends and family behind."
He is now hoping for a career in engineering after a distinction in science and C in English and maths – enough to get him into Leicester College.
Fellow Babington pupil Ganesh Vailaya, 16, got seven A*s and five As.
He said: "I was really happy because I'd worked so hard."
In all, 37 per cent of pupils at the school achieved five or more A* to C grades including English and maths, down from 45 per cent last year
Long-jumper Taisha Thompson dedicated four nights a week to athletics training but still took GCSEs in her stride at Sir Jonathan North, in Knighton, Leicester.
After gaining two As and four Bs, she is turning her attentions to the UK School Games, in Sheffield next month.
Taisha, of Knighton, whose personal best in the long jump is 5m 86cm, said: "I have to spend a lot of my time training but I've tried to work hard at my GCSEs, too.
"As an athlete you have to have something to fall back on so I'm going to study biology A-level and a sports diploma at Loughborough College so I can do sports physio or coaching."
Jodie Hammond, 16, of Leicester's West End, achieved eight A*s.
She plans to study A-levels at Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College, Leicester, with a view to becoming a surgeon.
She said: "It was better than expected but hard work."
Alison Merrills, principal of Sir Jonathan North, where 68 per cent of students gained five or more A* to C grades including English and maths, said: "We're really pleased with our results. It's my favourite day, seeing the girls so happy."
Lancaster School, in Knighton, also improved, with 58 per cent getting the top grades – 3 percentage points better than last year.
Raimand Morad, 16, of Aylestone, who is taking his six A*s and three As to Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College.
"I was sweating over it when I walked in. I was pretty stunned by what I got," he said.
Vik Thakur's two A*s and seven As mark the start of a dream career in civil engineering.
Vik, 16, of Braunstone, said: "I'd like to build something that makes its mark in the world."
At Soar Valley College, in Rushey Mead, 63 per cent of students achieved five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths.
Michael Gono, 16, now has a clutch of top grades.
He said: "I'm easily distracted but the teachers nagged at me and pushed me to work harder.
"This school cares about its students and because they pushed me I've managed to get the grades I need." Reported by This is 2 hours ago.