TEACHERS praised hard-working Kaysie Clark for managing to excel with her GCSEs while, at the same time, caring for her paralysed dad.

Kaysie, a pupil at James Hornsby School, Laindon, got As in humanities and social care, plus three Bs and five Cs in other subjects.

Kaysie, 16, of Barrington Gardens, Basildon, had to help look after her dad Simon, 39, who was paralysed from the waist down after a fall.

The caring youngster had to help out at home because mum, Emma was busy looking after a new a baby brother earlier this year.

James Hornsby headteacher Jason Carey said: “Kaysie’s done amazingly well. She is a credit to the school.

“Her attendance was a concern, because of her caring at home but as a school, we supported her as much as we could to get her back into those lessons to help pass her exams.

“I’m very proud of her and she worked incredibly hard.”

Kaysie now plans to go on to study for A Levels at Palmers College, Grays, to help achieve her ambition of becoming a mental health nurse.

She said: “I’m so pleased with my results – and dad’s on the mend now, too.”

As well as her two As, Kaysie achieved Bs in English, maths and business and Cs in science, additional science, English literature, geography and RE.