A MALVERN College pupil has started the next stage of her studies after overcoming the toughest of obstacles to post excellent GCSE results.

Imogen Byers, from Colwall, fell ill with glandular fever in January, just two weeks into the spring term, and only managed the odd day at college before the exams this summer.

But she surprised everyone by scoring eight grade A*s and two grade As and will now be studying for the International Baccalaureate in the college's sixth form.

"She had to fight against an inability to concentrate, so she worked in short, sharp bursts at home." said her mother Anna.

"She had achieved a lot of course work for which she knew she had good results before she went down, so that helped.

"The school have been brilliant, they were very supportive and kept sending work round. Teachers even came round to make sure she was all right. And more importantly, it gave her the motivation to keep going."

Imogen, aged 16, is keen on acting and has appeared in several plays in the college. Her ability to memorise words easily helped her to learn, despite her illness, which is still lingering.

Headmaster Hugh Carsons aid: "Imogen has displayed tremendous courage and determination.

"We're all delighted with her success and her example will, I;m sure, be an inspiration to anyone similarly struck down in future."