A BRAVE schoolboy fought against a debilitating spine and brain infection to sit his GCSE exams.

Tom Reid, of LVS Ascot School, had more reason than most to celebrate his results after sitting a number of exams in hospital whilst paralysed by an infection.

In April he fell ill with a bacterial disease that attacked his spine and brain and was told at John Radcliffe hospital to forget his exams this year as he wouldn’t be able to sit them, and may end up wheelchair-bound for life.

However Tom remained determined to sit his exams and worked with the hospital and exam board to make it happen, resulting in an A, five Bs and three Cs.

During his initial exams he required a scribe to write for him and someone to read the exam questions due to his paralysis. As he improved he worked on his handwriting and was able to take some exams independently.

Tom's mother Melanie said: “I’m hugely proud of Tom. The school has been amazingly supportive and nurtured Tom to the position he is in today.

"LVS Ascot has offered unfaltering attention to Tom even when Tom had no motivation. Teachers from the school visited him in hospital regularly, helped him revise and worked with Tom on achievable goals.

"The support he has had from the school has been incredible. So much so Tom is now going to stay here for A-Levels rather than go to Henley College where he was going to attend. Tom has exceeded my expectations; I am bursting with pride."