A SUTTON teenager who suffers from a serious illness has been recognised for her outstanding academic achievements.

Despite not being able to attend school for three years and being very ill with a systematic disorder that causes infection and inflammation, 16-year-old Kirsty Hopkins has already attained two GCSEs at A* early.

And this summer she is hoping to add four more to her collection after sitting the exams at home.

Kirsty was put forward for the Fred Evans Memorial Award, organised by the Pathfinder Careers Charity, by her home tutors, who have watched the teenager persevere through extremely difficult circumstances.

From dissecting hearts in the utility room to conducting chemistry experiments in the kitchen, home tutoring has made a huge difference to Kirsty's life, and she hopes to continue, eventually going on to university.

"I do miss school, but my friends come round and text me quite a bit. I'm used to it now. Education has been very important to me, I want to have the same opportunities as everyone else," she said.

Kirsty added that even when she hasn't been well, she has pushed herself to study in order to keep up with her peers.

"It has been a struggle at times, but she has really stuck with it, " Kirsty's mother Charmian said. "She's always happy. It's very rare that she's not smiling!"

Kirsty has suffered from the disorder, which affects her entire body and leaves her prone to illnesses and infection, since birth.

She has periods when the condition eases and she can live a relatively normal life.

Until she reached year nine, she attended Ilkley Grammar School but for the past three years she has been unable to attend school, parties, church or do the things most teenagers take for granted.

Yet Kirsty is always cheerful and makes the best of the situation, and has tremendous support from her family and friends.

She is also a member of St Peter's Methodist Church, Cross Hills, and the minister even comes to give her Holy Communion at home.

When Kirsty was younger she took up sewing when she was sick and following in the footsteps of her grandmother and mother, has become a deft seamstress.

Her felt and quilt making earned her the top grade in her GCSE Textiles exam and also played a part in her GCSE Art that she obtained last year.

She hopes to study craft at university and eventually have her own gallery.

The Fred Evans Memorial Award is an annual award for people from Wakefield, York or North Yorkshire who have overcome disabilities to achieve extraordinary success.

Kirsty will be presented with her award at a ceremony held in York on July 15.