Laurence's story

Laurence developed bipolar disorder in Year 10, and the severity of his illness meant he was unable to attend school. Special funding paid for home tuition to enable him to continue his GCSEs and achieve the high grades predicted before his illness.

Home tuition will continue to support his learning up to A level and he is predicted to achieve the grades needed to study the degree in mathematics or physics at university that he's aiming for.

Laurence's Dad is keen for him to apply for a Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) to help pay for the extra support needed because of his disability when he moves on to university:

'I'm encouraging Laurence to apply for DSA funding, with support from his tutors, healthcare professionals and the Disability Unit at university, to pay for the extra support he needs.'

Laurence says: 'My illness hasn't affected my ambition - if anything I'm more determined than ever to achieve. I think extra support helps to put me, as a disabled student, on a more level playing field with students of similar academic ability.'