Three years ago Amelia Norris, 19, was beginning her first year of A levels when she was unexpectedly diagnosed with a serious heart defect.

"I had a hospital appointment for something completely unrelated," she said. "I wasn't showing any symptoms."

"I had to have a scan and the doctors were looking at it and making strange faces. They turned round to me and said: 'Did you know you've got a hole in your heart?'"

After her original operation date was rescheduled, Amelia underwent open-heart surgery in March 2016. At at a time when her peers were busy revising for their exams, she was recovering from the gruelling 12-hour surgery. Despite missing six weeks of crucial study time, Amelia still managed to sit her Biology exam, achieving a B Grade.

This year she was back to pick up the results of the final three subjects, having finally sat the exams this summer. Amelia, who attends Waldegrave School in Twickenham was awarded a B in maths, a C in music, and an A* for her EPQ.

This September she will head to Huddersfield University to study music, with a view to one day becoming a music therapist.

"I had an unconditional offer from Huddersfield, so I didn't have that worry today other people have," Amelia said.

"But they were the results I'd hoped for, and I'm pleased to finally get them finished.

"I got diagnosed just as I was starting my A-Levels, and now I'm healthy and they're finished I'm looking forward to making a fresh start at uni."