A FOREST teenager achieved the top grade in GCSE maths – despite being rushed to hospital just 48 hours before an exam.

The grade nine puts Blaise Beard – who shares a Christian name with a famous mathematician – in the top three per cent of students across England.

The student at Dene Magna School in Mitcheldean was taken to hospital with suspected meningitis but it was found to be a severe migraine.

His mum Zowie insisted he spend the following day at home in The Keelings, Cinderford – although Blaise was not keen as it would have spoilt his 100 per cent attendance record.

Blaise, who was named Dene Magna’s mathematician of the year at the end of the last academic year, also declined extra assistance for the paper.

Parents Zowie and Scott are “very proud” of their son’s achievement and the head of Dene Magna, Steve Brady called him “a complete hero”.

Mrs Beard said: “The school offered to let him do the paper at home or to have extra time in the exam.

“Blaise said he didn’t want any help because that would be unfair.

“The school were brilliant in the way they helped. He did the exam in a room which was cooler than the hall.”

When Blaise was born Mrs Beard did some research into his name and found that it was shared with Blaise Pascal, a 17th century French mathematician.

“I liked the name Blaise and found out about Blaise Pascal but I had no idea my Blaise would turn out to be a mathematician.”

Mr Brady said: “Essentially, Blaise was a complete hero.

“He looked terrible when he came in to school – everyone was very concerned – and we tried to support him but he was adamant that he would just carry on.

 

“This was fairly typical of Blaise as he is strong-willed and had real focus in the run-up to the exam. 

“Fortunately, Blaise is a very gifted mathematician but to achieve the highest grade possible while in such poor medical health was remarkable.

“The sky is the limit for Blaise and this just shows the character and spirit that he has.” 

In addition to the grade nine, Blaise also achieved two A*, four grade As, and three Bs. He will now go onto John Kyrle High School in Ross-on-Wye where he will study A-Level maths and biology alongside an advanced maths course.