Nine years and not one day off sick from school (From Echo)

Nine years and not one day off sick from school

7:00am Saturday 14th July 2012 in Local News By Luke Lambert

A PUPIL from Basildon has taken dedication to her studies to a new degree after going nine years without a day off sick.

Cheyenne Collier, 16, from Dengayne, Basildon, has negotiated her schooling life without being absent through illness.

She first went to Greenstead infant and junior school, then Chalvedon school before it merged with the Upper Basildon Academy in 2009.

She has now left the academy having achieved 100 per cent during her whole school life.

Cheyenne said: “I am pretty chuffed as this is something not many people can say they have achieved.

“I am pretty sure the school hasn’t had many students who have a record like this, although I didn’t get any sort of recognition.

“I am occasionally ill, but typically it always seems to happen during the school holidays.”

Cheyenne’s achievement is even more remarkable given the attendance rates at the Basildon Academies, as in May, 2011, Ofsted inspector Stephen Abbott found almost a quarter of Year 10 and nearly a third of Year 11 students were persistently missing classes.

Cheyenne hopes her dedication will strike a chord with potential employers as she looks to pursue a career in zoology.

She added: “I am going to college to study animal science and don’t plan on having a day off there either. I can’t wait to get started.”

Stepfather Dennis Sweeney, 32, said: “We are very proud of Cheyenne. She is committed to her work and recognises the importance of her education.

“Not many people can say they haven’t had a day off for this long.”

Dr Rory Fox, headteacher of the academies, said: “We are very pleased Cheyenne has achieved 100 per cent attendance.

“This is a fantastic achievement.

“Her behaviour and attendance have been exemplary and she is a great role model to our students.”

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