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A-Level Results Day 2013: Dyslexic Pupil Penny Banks Wins Cambridge Place

Dyslexic Pupil Wins Cambridge Place
The Huffington Post UK/PA

Dyslexic teenager Penny Banks is celebrating after landing a place at Cambridge University, despite having struggling with writing since she was young.

Penny Banks, a 17-year-old from Honiton, Devon, gained three A*s in her maths, economics and physics A-levels which secured her a spot at Girton College to read land economy. The talented student wore ear plugs in her exams to help her think straight.

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The teen has been diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia and also has handwriting issues. Penny, who gained three A*s in maths, economics and physics, joined Queen's College in Taunton as an academic scholar in year nine.

During her time at the school she has received support from the school's learning development unit, giving her tactics and practical help to help deal with her problems with co-ordination and thought processes.

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Talented student Penny Banks

"I can't think in a straight line and find it really difficult to write fluidly but the support at school has really made a difference," the teenager said.

"I was finding it really difficult to concentrate in exams and now wear ear plugs - something I would never have thought of - so that I can sub vocalise better and block out any exterior sounds."

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)
A-level results(02 of35)
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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)
A-level results(04 of35)
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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)
A-level results(05 of35)
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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)
A-level results(06 of35)
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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)
A-level results(07 of35)
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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)
A-level results(08 of35)
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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)
A-level results(09 of35)
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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)
A-level results(10 of35)
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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)
A-level results(11 of35)
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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)
A-level results(12 of35)
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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)
A-level results(13 of35)
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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)
A-level results(14 of35)
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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)
A-level results(15 of35)
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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)
A-level results(16 of35)
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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)
A-level results(17 of35)
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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)
A-level results(18 of35)
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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)
A-level results(19 of35)
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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)
A-level results(20 of35)
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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)

In addition to her academic success, she has also played a role in campaigning against global hunger.

She joined comedian David Walliams to call on the Prime Minister to end global hunger, as part of the national If Campaign.

Penny met David Cameron at 10 Downing Street in June and presented him with a six-foot plate, a symbol of global hunger, ahead of the G8 summit on which were more than 1,000 signatures from people pledging their support.

"I am so excited about going to Cambridge this autumn and cannot wait to get stuck into my course," said Penny.

"When I read about land economy, I found it so much more interesting and broader than straight economics and I was impressed that Girton was the only college to ask for maths as a required A-level.

"I know that my parents are really proud that despite my learning difficulties I have managed to gain a place at the top university in the country."

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