A student has overcome illness to achieve three A* and an A in her A levels.

Katie Marshall, Head of School at private Chigwell School in High Road, Chigwell, is now heading to Oxford to study medicine.

The 18-year-old got top marks in Maths, Biology and Chemistry and an A in music despite falling ill as her exams were about to start and undergoing an operation.

Katie had a severe complications from appendicitis and it looked as though she wouldn’t be able to take her exams at all at one stage. 

She said: “I’m over the moon. The school was amazingly supportive.

“I’m looking forward to studying in such a historic university and using some of the best research facilities and one of the best training hospitals for medicine.

“It will be great to be mixing with other students from different courses in the colleges too.”

Headteacher Michael Punt said: “All the students have done really well and worked very hard.

“They have contributed a huge amount to the school and I am very proud of them.”