Lad gets perfect A-Level results despite not being able to read or write

Although he cannot read or write, a student has received grades of A*AA in his A-Levels and has secured a spot at university.

A-Levels are no easy feat for anyone, but for Oliver Chadwick, they posed significantly more challenges. The 18-year-old student from Bath has dyslexia so severe, he has the reading age of a six-year-old.

But Oliver pushed on and with his can-do attitude, he achieved the top grades A*AA in the hardest examinations offered at a secondary education level.

Defying all odds, Oliver is now getting ready to head off to the University of Bristol, where he will be studying an engineering mathematics degree.

Ralph Allen School

Speaking to SomersetLive, his mum Sophie says it is Oliver’s hard work that has seen him through tough times.

She said: "A lot of his success is down to him being an incredibly hard worker and his decision not to let his dyslexia limit him.

"At each stage of Oliver's education, there have been new challenges, but he has overcome all of them. He has always had a lot of nay-sayers but he has always proved them wrong."

The family first realised Oliver could be dyslexic, when they realised his daily routine of having ‘jacket potato and beans' for lunch was actually because he couldn’t read the menu at school, and so chose the option he knew they had every day.

He initially had reading and writing lessons with the Dyslexia Association but was advised to stop as he wasn’t progressing.

After speaking to experts, his mum was told that Oliver was one of the most dyslexic people they had ever seen.

Despite this, Oliver, with the help of Ralph Allen School, got through lessons by listening and having a teaching assistant to support him.

For Oliver and those who supported him along the way, the hard-work and extra effort paid off on results day.

Ralph Allen School

Oliver remains positive and doesn’t think his dyslexia can stop him in the long run. He said: "My dyslexia affects me quite a lot, but also surprisingly little if you think about it.

"When people hear that you can’t read or write, they think you can’t do anything, but it only really affects me day-to-day when I can’t read things like signs."

Wise beyond his years, he added: "There is no point in stressing. I always feel quite chilled because there could always be something you've forgotten, but you have to accept that and move on."

At University, he will receive study skills support, a postgraduate mentor, and a peer mentor to help him get the most out of his hard work.