STUDENT success stories have been heralded in schools across Dorset as youngsters collect their GCSE results.

Teachers at Avonbourne Academies in Bournemouth all took the time to praise 16-year-old Anas Alsabbagh who defied his own expectations with his grades.

Anas arrived in the UK from Syria aged 10 and did not speak any of the English language. Through perseverance and support in the six years since he has excelled at his studies.

He told the Echo: “I had a pretty tough journey at the start as English is my second language. I came here in Year 7 and wasn’t good at it, I was shy, didn’t know how to spell or write. But I put some effort in and have got the result.”

Anas achieved a 9 in maths and Arabic, 7 in physics, biology and chemistry, 7 in geography and a 7 and 5 in English literature and language respectively.

Bournemouth Echo: Avonbourne Academy student Anas Alsabbagh with his mother on GCSE results dayAvonbourne Academy student Anas Alsabbagh with his mother on GCSE results day

His mother described herself as “very proud” of her son, who will now go on to study maths and science at Bournemouth School sixth form.

Less than five miles away at Glenmoor and Winton Academies, praise was being similarly lobbied at student Scarlett Barry – who overcame an almost non-existent attendance record to strongly pass all but one subject.

Principal Samantha Viney described Scarlett as their “biggest success story” and recalled her “refusing to step foot” in the school grounds when she first arrived in year 9.

Having dropped out of a previous school in year 8, she declared she would “never” go to school again.

Scarlett said: “I thought I was never going to go to school again and decided I wouldn’t take my GCSEs because I hated school so much. I really struggled. I was moved to this school at the end of year 9 but didn’t go in because of Covid, that made it even harder.

Bournemouth Echo: Glenmoor and Winton Academies student Scarlett Barry on GCSE results dayGlenmoor and Winton Academies student Scarlett Barry on GCSE results day

“When I came back to school in year 10 my attendance was at around 20 per cent. I’d just given up. Then, in year 11, I don’t know how but I started coming in more and it became easier.

“Now I’ve passed every subject except one somehow. I never even thought I was going to take GCSEs so I’m proud of myself.

“There was something making me come to school and I found I started enjoying it more. I don’t know what happened but I’m really happy.”

Scarlett now hopes to go to college to study accounting. “If I didn’t come back to school, I wouldn’t be able to do this,” she added.