A TEENAGER praised his school for helping him overcome dyslexia with tailored lessons to help him achieve his goals.

David Gilson, 16, has benefited from five years of one-to-one tuition at Belfairs High School in Leigh, resulting in improvements in his reading and writing skills.

Dyslexia is a condition that affects reading, writing and spelling and therefore, if not diagnosed can cause communication difficulties throughout life.

David, who lives in Southend, said: "I didn't realise I was dyslexic until Year 7 when my teachers at Belfairs High School picked up on it and suggested I get tested.

"I used to really struggle before and it was a big relief to know why, not that I was just a bit stupid.

"The support from school has been brilliant and has helped me so much."

Dyslexia Awareness Week, all this week, helps improve awareness so people get help at an early age.

At Belfairs High School, all pupils are tested when they join the school and, if it is deemed necessary, they will be referred for extra support to meet any particular learning needs they may have.

Jacquie Wilson, special learning difficulty co-ordinator, said: "It is really important any students with learning difficulties have these recognised as soon as possible.

"We can then provide them with strategies to help them reach their full potential."

David gained 11 GCSEs including five A-grades in the summer and is now studying media and PE at A-level.

He hopes to go on to become a firefighter.

David added: "Without the extra help I wouldn't have done so well.

"I think if other students are struggling they should ask for help and be tested and then they can get all the help they need to do well.

"Being dyslexic is actually really common and it's not a bad thing, you can still achieve. But so many people don't know they have it."

It is thought that about 10 per cent of the population has some form of dyslexia or related difficulty.