A-Level Results Day 2013: Student Tom Woodward Scores Top Grades Despite Cancer Battle

Student Scores Top Grades Despite Cancer Battle

A student diagnosed with testicular cancer and who underwent three cycles of chemotherapy in the middle of his A-level exams has scored a string of top grades.

Tom Woodward, an 18-year-old from Brighton, was diagnosed at Easter, but refused to let his illness get in the way. The Brighton College student gained A* in psychology and As in history and English to secure a place reading history at Bristol University.

Keen rugby player Tom, from Lewes, said: "It was pretty stressful but I didn't have any choice and I just had to get on with it. I'm pretty relieved now.

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Inspirational teen Tom Woodward celebrates with friends

"I have been given the all-clear and I just have to have check-ups done every three months. It wasn't too bad because I had the chemo round my exams."

A-Level Results Day 2013
A-level results(01 of35)
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Bridie McGrail speaks on her moblie phone after receiving her A Level results at Stoke Newington School, in Stoke Newington, north London. (credit:PA)
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Umamah Taruala after receiving her A Level results at Stoke Newington School, in Stoke Newington, north London. (credit:PA)
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Rosalind Barnett, from St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, reads her A-Level exam results for the first time to see she has achieved 2 A* and 1 A to secure her a place at Nottingham University studying Psychology. (credit:PA)
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Sandra Forbes reacts after receiving better than expected A Level results, at Stoke Newington School, in Stoke Newington, north London. (credit:PA)
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Rosalind Barnett, from St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, reads her A-Level exam results for the first time to see she has achieved 2 A* and 1 A to secure her a place at Nottingham University studying Psychology. (credit:PA)
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Sandra Forbes reacts after receiving better than expected A Level results, at Stoke Newington School, in Stoke Newington, north London. (credit:PA)
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Sandra Forbes reacts after receiving better than expected A Level results, at Stoke Newington School, in Stoke Newington, north London. (credit:PA)
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Nell Ranken, Rebecca Verlander, Louis Hill, Alice Simpson and Bridie McGrail (left to right) receive their A Level results at Stoke Newington School, in Stoke Newington, north London. (credit:PA)
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Krystyna Smolinski, from St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, reads her A-Level exam results for the first time to see she has achieved 4 A* to secure her a place at Cambridge University studying Natural Sciences. (credit:PA)
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Some of the top achieving A* students at St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, David Moseley, right, who achieved 1 A* 2 As 1 B and his friend Stephen Fulham, left, who achieved 2 A* 1 A read their results away from the crowds. (credit:PA)
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St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School pupil Susanna Harvey, left, smiles after reading her 2 A* and 1 A results as her friend Tiffany Irwin nervously prepares to read her A-Level results. (credit:PA)
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Krystyna Smolinski, who has achieved 4 A* to secure her a place at Cambridge University studying Natural Sciences and Special needs student Jeremy Budd, from St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, who achieved 4A*s in Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Philosophy and the highest grades possible in the two extension (STEP) mathematics papers he took and has been offered a place at Cambridge University to study mathematics. (credit:PA)
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Top achieving A* students at St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School pupils wave their their A-Level results in the air. (credit:PA)
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Special needs student Jeremy Budd, from St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, who achieved 4A*s in Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Philosophy and the highest grades possible in the two extension (STEP) mathematics papers he took and has been offered a place at Cambridge University to study mathematics. (credit:PA)
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St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School pupil Susanna Harvey, centre, smiles after reading her 2 A* and 1 A results as her friends prepare to read their A-Level results. (credit:PA)
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Krystyna Smolinski, who has achieved 4 A* to secure her a place at Cambridge University studying Natural Sciences and Special needs student Jeremy Budd, from St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, who achieved 4A*s in Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Philosophy and the highest grades possible in the two extension (STEP) mathematics papers he took and has been offered a place at Cambridge University to study mathematics. (credit:PA)
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Krystyna Smolinski, who has achieved 4 A* to secure her a place at Cambridge University studying Natural Sciences and Special needs student Jeremy Budd, from St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, who achieved 4A*s in Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Philosophy and the highest grades possible in the two extension (STEP) mathematics papers he took and has been offered a place at Cambridge University to study mathematics. (credit:PA)
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Special needs student Jeremy Budd, from St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, who achieved 4A*s in Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Philosophy and the highest grades possible in the two extension (STEP) mathematics papers he took and has been offered a place at Cambridge University to study mathematics. (credit:PA)
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Some of the top achieving A* students at St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, Anna Skinner, centre, who achieved 2 A*s 1 A and her friends Tiffany Irwin, left, who acheived 1 A* 2 As and Rosalind Barnett, right, who achieved 2 A*s 1 A, read their results. (credit:PA)
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Two girls celebrate their results at Brighton College in East Sussex as students receive their A Levels results across the country. (credit:PA)
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A student holds her results at Brighton College in East Sussex as students receive their A Levels results across the country. (credit:PA)
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(L-R) Katy Lucas, Jessica Lance, India Dhadra, Beth Kelly and Rachel Madden celebrate their exams results at Brighton College in East Sussex as students receive their A Levels results across the country. (credit:PA)
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Tom Woodward celebrates on receiving 1 A* and 2 As after having treatment for cancer during his exams at Brighton College in East Sussex as students receive their A Levels results across the country. (credit:PA)
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Megan Larner celebrates grades of A*, A, and B at Brighton College in East Sussex as students receive their A Levels results across the country. (credit:PA)
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Megan Larner celebrates grades of A*, A, and B at Brighton College in East Sussex as students receive their A Levels results across the country. (credit:PA)
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Hannah Short celebrates grades of A*, A and B at Brighton College in East Sussex as students receive their A Levels results across the country. (credit:PA)
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Students Jonathan Cushenan and Hannah Cole, celebrate their A levels results outside Ballymena Academy in County Antrim. (credit:PA)
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Hannah Short celebrates grades of A*, A and B at Brighton College in East Sussex as students receive their A Levels results across the country. (credit:PA)
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India Dhadra celebrates grades of A, A, and C at Brighton College in East Sussex as students receive their A Levels results across the country. (credit:PA)
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Nino Harris, 19, from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, a self-confessed "bad boy" who was forced to retake his first year of A-levels and now has won a place at the University of Oxford. (credit:PA)
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Withington Independent Girls School pupils pose for parents cameras as they receive their A level exam results on August 15, 2013 in Manchester, England. Over 300,000 teenagers are getting the results of their A-levels today as university admissions body UCAS said a record number of students have been accepted by UK universities. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
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Withington Independent Girls School pupils pose for parents cameras as they receive their A level exam results on August 15, 2013 in Manchester, England. Over 300,000 teenagers are getting the results of their A-levels today as university admissions body UCAS said a record number of students have been accepted by UK universities. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
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Withington Independent Girls School pupils pose for parents cameras as they receive their A level exam results on August 15, 2013 in Manchester, England. Over 300,000 teenagers are getting the results of their A-levels today as university admissions body UCAS said a record number of students have been accepted by UK universities. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
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Withington Independent Girls School pupils pose for parents cameras as they receive their A level exam results on August 15, 2013 in Manchester, England. Over 300,000 teenagers are getting the results of their A-levels today as university admissions body UCAS said a record number of students have been accepted by UK universities. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
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Withington Independent Girls School pupils pose for parents cameras as they receive their A level exam results on August 15, 2013 in Manchester, England. Over 300,000 teenagers are getting the results of their A-levels today as university admissions body UCAS said a record number of students have been accepted by UK universities. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Brighton College celebrated another year of impressive results, with 96% of grades at A* to B and 100% passes.

A total of 97 pupils achieved AAA or better, 21 gained three A*s and 20 secured places at Oxbridge.

Among the high achievers were Cameron Dashwood, Ellie De and Angus Plummer, all 18, who gained four A*s.

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Cameron, who secured a place at Pembroke College, Cambridge, reading natural sciences, said: "I only needed one A* to get in, to have the others is a bit of a bonus.

"We are all going to go out to celebrate with a big barbeque and then we will probably hit the town afterwards."

Ellie - who is also heading to Pembroke College, reading law, after getting top grades in psychology, English literature, geography and history - said: "I'm really happy.

"I would have been happy to get one A*, which is what I needed to secure my offer at Cambridge, but the others were a surprise."

The college's headmaster, Richard Cairns, said the fact many students achieved high grades after juggling their studies with outside interests was inspiring.

He said: "They have once again achieved the top grades in Sussex without ever losing their sense of fun or their commitment to life beyond the classroom.

"So many of those celebrating today have been top sportsmen, dancers, artists and musicians.

"That they have found time to excel academically as well is truly humbling and inspiring."