FOR one youngster at Kingsdown School, her excellent GCSE results had extra significance.

Kamya Gupil, 16, became very ill during her second year, meaning she had to miss a lot of classroom time leading up to her exams.

However, the school’s head girl overcame the setback and achieved six A*s and four As meaning she can go on to study at Cirencester College.

Kamya, who has spent the summer working in the office of Swindon North MP Justin Tomlinson, said she was both delighted and surprised with her results.

She said: “I am so happy. I was very worried about how I had done because of the time I missed.

“The doctors never fully diagnosed it but they think it was something to do with my immune system. There were times when I could barely walk and struggled to breathe.

“I certainly didn’t expect to do this well so I am feeling quite proud now. I’m not sure whether I want to work in politics or law at the moment but I’m looking forward to starting college.”

Headteacher Wendy Conaghan said: “We are very proud of Kamya. She has worked very hard and deserved to do well with everything she has been through.

“Overall, the school is slightly below where we were last year but with the way the exams are now run that is what we expected.

“Everyone has worked very hard on their exams and with the changes we are pleased.”

Among the pupils celebrating success at Kingsdown yesterday was 16-year-old Luke Anger, who achieved eight A*s and three As.

He said: “When I started working on my GCSEs I never thought I would be be getting these grades so I am pleased and surprised.

“I am going to go on to college so it is nice to have got the grades I needed.”