DETERMINED John Leggott College student Leanne Marriss is celebrating achieving the best possible marks she could get on the BTEC National Certificate for IT Practitioners' course.

Despite having mild cerebral palsy and having to come to terms with her mum Lesley Ann dying last year, Leanne has thrown herself into her studies and successfully achieved a double distinction, equivalent to two A grades at A-level.

And on top of that, she has also completed A-levels in law and sociology. After receiving her results for those courses next month, Leanne, 18, of Sandhouse Crescent, Scunthorpe, is planning on beginning a university computing course.

"I like to try my hardest to keep busy and I am always determined to do the best I can, so I think these are the qualities which have helped me to do so well at college," said Leanne. "The last year has been hard work, but my teachers have been really supportive and have always been there for me to talk to.

"I am not particularly confident, but I feel I have been encouraged to play an active role in life at John Leggott College and that has really helped me."

Aspiring IT teacher Leanne chose to study IT after receiving distinctions in her BTEC First ICT while she was at Brumby Engineering College.

She said her college studies have been a good mixture of coursework and exams, which has helped her to balance her workload.

"I think the fact that the BTEC National Certificate ICT is assessed by coursework has really helped me to achieve outstanding grades," Leanne added.

"I tend to panic less about coursework and work at my own pace so that I can ensure a high quality of work."

Since beginning her study leave last month, Leanne has still been coming into college three or four times a week to work with current first year students.

Her course tutor Dawn Brealey said: "Leanne has worked diligently both within college and outside on her BTEC IT course. She has achieved an outstanding grade which reflects all of her hard work and she is always giving of her best and willing to try something new.

"Leanne offered her expertise to our first year students who have now been able to progress following her one-to-one help.

"Leanne has mentioned that she would like to become a teacher in the future. I have confidence that she would make an excellent teacher and wish her success."

John Leggott College offers both A-level Computer Science and a BTEC Diploma for IT Practitioners at advanced level and a BTEC Extended Certificate in ICT at intermediate level.

For more information log on to www.leggott.ac.uk