MOST children miss a bit of school after falling victim to the odd sickness bug or cold.

But not Sam Stewart. He’s just finished his GCSE’s without missing a single minute of classroom time.

The 16-year-old, who attended Durham Community Business College in Ushaw Moor completed his final GCSE exam on Tuesday, rounding off 12 years of perfect school attendance.

Sam, of New Brancepeth, near Durham, said: “I think I’ve been quite lucky, I haven’t really had any illnesses. There have been a few days when I’ve been a bit ill but I’ve always gone in.

“For me it’s normal, it’s routine. I don’t know what it’s like to be off school. I loved school, especially primary school.”

Mother Lisa added: “He had his appendix out when he was three and he had chicken pox at nursery so he got some of the bigger things out of the way before school.

“It’s a massive achievement. I think it speaks for itself really. He’s very dedicated.”

And Sam, a former pupil at New Brancepeth Primary School, is hoping he can return to school in the future.

The keen boxer, who has been training in the sport since the age of nine, wants a job or apprenticeship in sports coaching and work in primary schools.

“I’m a bit bored already,” he said. “Hopefully I’m going to get a job. I want to be working as soon as I can.

“I love boxing. I would love to get an apprenticeship in sports coaching.”

Lee Stewart, Sam’s dad, added: “It’s tremendous. I think it’s unbelievable.

“We’re very proud of him. He’s never missed a session at school, not even a single minute.”

Sam has a place at East Durham College, in Peterlee, to study sports coaching.