A MARLING School sixth-former who has spent the last two years battling cancer has defied the odds and achieved an A* in English literature at A-level.

Despite being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia three weeks into his first year of sixth-form, Will Smith learned that he had received the highest grade possible in his English literature exam on Thursday.

For the past two years, Will, 18, who is still undergoing treatment for the disease, has been forced to juggle life in and out of hospital with his studies and school work.

To help make up for the time spent in hospital, Will has received extra support and one-on-one lessons from teachers.

“I am honestly really over the moon. The school could not have been more supportive, Dr Wilson, Mrs Southwell, Steve Brown and Dan Elson have all been incredible as well as my friends and best mate Chris Pidsley,” said Will, from Nailsworth.

“I received one-on-one lessons to make sure I caught up on as much as I could from when I was in hospital.

“The support was phenomenal. I cannot believe I got an A*.”

Despite continuing his treatment, the bright teenager fully intends to stay on at sixth form for another year to complete A-levels in history and philosophy and hopes to go to university.