Class act as Hartlepool student goes 12 years without missing a single day of school

The 16-year-old has achieved a 100% attendance record throughout the whole of primary and secondary school.

That is in spite of breaking her arm three times while at Sacred Heart Primary School and various football injuries that have resulted in her being on crutches over the last five years at English Martyrs School.

Her headteacher described it as ‘a phenomenal achievement’.

At primary school, she broke her right arm on three separate occasions. But it always happened on a weekend so trips to the hospital did not prevent her going in.

And while at English Martyrs Leah, who plays for Hartlepool United Ladies Under 18 side, suffered ligament damage and an ankle injury, but still insisted on going in.

It was only the nationwide lockdown that stopped her from attending and sitting her GSCE exams.

Leah, who lives at Hutton Henry, said: “I feel proud that I haven’t had a day off school.

“I’ve been bored being off school during lockdown and would have liked to go to school. I am however looking forward to going to English Martyrs Sixth Form.”

English Martyrs headteacher Stephen Hammond said: “We are really proud of such a phenomenal achievement by Leah.

"It is testament to her resilience and dedication – we congratulate her wholeheartedly.”

Leah’s proud mum Bev Coulson, 40, who teaches at St Hild's School, added: “She battled through football injuries so that she could get full attendance.

"She has been on crutches but still gone in. I don’t think she likes to miss out on anything.”

Good attendance clearly runs in the family as Leah’s little brother Robert, aged 11, has notched up six out of seven years without any time off at Sacred Heart Primary School.

The only time he missed school was a couple of years ago when he came down with scarlet fever.

"He was going for the full seven years like his sister but it was not an illness that you can go to school with,” added Bev.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

We have arranged a special 20 per cent off subscription offer for people to take advantage of. Visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk, choose the newspaper title, the type of subscription and enter your details.

Thank you.