TEENAGERS who overcame adversity and heartbreak are celebrating securing impressive GCSE results.

Kitty Weller, a Year 11 at Southend High School for Girls, tragically lost her dad at the start of the year, but has been praised for channelling her grief to help her achieve three Grade 7s, four 8s and four 9s in her GCSE exams.

The youngster’s mum, Nicki Weller, praised her attitude as she focused on revision and exam prep despite the family’s heartbreak.

Nicki said: “She put every ounce of her energy into revision and distracted herself with that to such an unbelievable degree – that’s why she’s come out with these amazing grades.”

“She didn’t make any excuses for it, she just put every cent of her being into it. She’s just amazing.”

As far as Kitty’s concerned, carrying on was the only option despite losing her dad to an extremely unexpected heart condition. Her advice for those in a similar situation is simple: “Just keep going, push through and it will all be alright - don’t be a victim.”

Grace Gikas with headteacher Damian LeeGrace Gikas with headteacher Damian Lee (Image: Newsquest)

Over at Mayflower High School, in Billericay, Grace Gikas, 16, managed to achieve four Grade 6s, five Grade 5s and one Grade 4, despite undergoing two surgeries and missing four months’ worth of education.

Both pupils are among the highest achievers in south Essex, who celebrated yesterday morning after picking up their exam results.

Grace missed school between September last year and January after suffering “excruciating pain”.

During this period she underwent two corrective surgeries, including major spinal surgery after doctors found a “49-degree curve” in her back.

Grace said: “I was diagnosed in March 2022. I was in PE with some friends and they said I was leaning to the left, it didn’t look right.

“I was having a sleepover with a best friend and she said I had a massive lump on my back, from my spine.

“The next day I was rushed to hospital.”

After a diagnosis of scoliosis, which Grace described as “surreal”, she was rushed in for surgery due to the spinal curve worsening.

She added: “There was a lot of stress about missing school and I was dying to do some school work. I had a looming feeling and when I went back I had no idea what they were doing, it was awful.

“I was revising as much as I could and accessing online resources to make myself proud.”