AN EPILEPTIC teenager who missed 11 months of school due to her illness has now achieved AS-level success after returning to the classroom.

Beth Secker, pictured, spent much of her final GCSE year in and out of hospital and lost whole chunks of her memory because of severe fits.

But she was so determined not to let medical problems rule her life that she enrolled in the sixth form at St Dominic's Priory School, in Stone, to get back into full-time education.

Now the 17-year-old has gained A grades in her sociology and general studies AS-levels, and also achieved a B in English literature and a D in psychology.

Beth, from Northesk Street, Stone, said: "It was a huge relief when I found out my results. I'm going to stay on at the school next year to complete my A-levels and would love to go to university.

"All the support of my family, friends and teachers has helped. It took hard work, but you can get back into education, even if you are ill. For me, school has been everything."

Beth suffered her first epileptic fit almost five years ago when she collapsed without warning. Doctors still don't know what triggered the illness, although it appears to be genetic.

By the time she started studying for GCSEs at Alleyne's High, in Stone, Beth was having daily fits.

"My record was nine fits in a row," she recalled. "I was really struggling and physically couldn't get out of bed. I couldn't find the energy.

"I barely left home, apart from going to hospital. That lasted 11 months. A lot of the time, I felt lonely and isolated. Everyone else my age was going out, going to parties, and going shopping."

Through the support of staff at Alleyne's, who Beth described as "brilliant", she was put in touch with a home tutor. She managed to achieve seven GCSEs, getting Bs and Cs.

Some of the exams were taken at home and some in school, where she had to sit in a separate room in case she had a fit.

After switching medication, her health began to improve. Beth now suffers a fit about once a month.

Her family chose to transfer her to the private school St Dominic's because it was nearer their home and had much smaller class sizes.

Beth said: "When I went there, it was so friendly. They have 18 people in the sixth form.

"It was difficult going back to school. I would get home and go straight to sleep.

"I had to drop history. Something that affects you when you have epilepsy is not being able to remember things. For history, you need to remember dates."

Her dad Chris, an anaesthetist, and her mum Angela are overjoyed with Beth's transformation.

Angela, aged 44, said: "Eighteen months ago, it was a completely different scenario. We didn't imagine for a minute that she would get her GCSEs or live independently of us. But she has been so determined and worked so hard.

"For other people in a similar situation, who worry about their children, we want them to know there is hope. We are delighted with her results.

"Because she had so much time off previously, she loves school. She's joined the choir and looks after the nursery children."

Overall at St Dominic's, this year's AS and A-level results have been record-breaking. More than half the A-level grades have been A*s or As.