Double celebration for Barrow Sixth Form student

It was a day of double celebration for Barrow Sixth Form College student Leigh-Ann Botham who secured top grades in her A Levels the day after receiving excellent news about her health.

The 19-year-old secured her place at Manchester University to study a degree in developmental biology with A grades in biology, chemistry and maths at the Rating Lane campus.

Today, she celebrated the culmination of three years at college that had been disrupted with a year off for treatment for a brain tumour.

“I had some good news last night that the tumour in my pituitary gland has shrunk even further,” she said. “My treatment was in Manchester and now I’m going to university there I have told my family and friends that I’ll be the best tour guide they have ever met.”

Leigh-Ann was diagnosed when she was in Year 8 at Dowdales School and had surgery. In her first term at sixth form she had to undergo intensive six-week treatment.

“It was coming up to Christmas and I just said I need to focus on this and come back next year,” she said. When she restarted her A Levels she decided to swap and do chemistry.

“I’m very happy with my chemistry result,” she said. “At first I was getting Es and Ds but lockdown really helped me to get into my groove. The lessons were recorded so I could watch them over and my tutor Brian supported us on the online platform Onenote.”

Leigh-Ann, whose family have recently moved to Carnforth, arrived to collect her results with firm friend Erin Dixon, who will study a degree in biochemistry in nearby Salford.

“Erin was in the year below me at school and when I came back she became my best friend and we have been through college together so it shows how good things can happen in challenging circumstances,” she said.

Head of Sixth Form Helen Gibson, who mentored Leigh-Ann in the Honours programme, said: “Leigh-Ann is not only an excellent student who has been part of our Honours programme but she’s a really great person and an inspiration to us all.”

Top achiever Leigh-Ann Botham celebrates with her friends including best friend Erin Dixon (far right)