SPECIAL SCHOOL PUPIL OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY KEY STAGE

NAME: LAITH RITCHIE

AGE: 14

SCHOOL: RIDGEWOOD COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL

ADDRESS: EASTERN AVENUE, BURNLEY

NUMBER OF PUPILS: 121

SCHOOL’S MISSION/VISION: Every day for every pupil we give them every chance to fulfil their potential

“LAITH is an inspiration to everyone who is lucky enough to cross his path. He engages in adult conversations and is mature beyond his years. He has a brilliant sense of humour. He is courageous, outgoing and has a positive outlook on life.” That’s how teachers at Ridgewood Community High School summed up Laith, who is succeeding at life despite having Cerebral Palsy and moderate learning difficulties.

Laith has been at the school for the past three years and his teachers say it was the first time they had ever seen him lost for words when he was told he had won the Lancashire Telegraph award. He was ‘gobsmacked’ said teacher Julie Naylor. “He was excited and his wheelchair was going far faster than it should do!”

His positive attitude impressed the judges when they heard how he uses assisted technology to write and complete his school work and is currently studying for a maths GCSE. He is also writing a novel; loves sport and plays wheelchair football and Boccia (similar to bowls and petanque); attends swimming lessons; is on the student council and in his spare time is planning a sponsored cycling event and is also in the school rock band.

“Laith is a fantastic role model for all young people. He is a keen ambassador for the school and enjoys being able to be the voice for so many students across school and the wider community. He is very clever and very determined. He has his physical and speech difficulties, and sometimes he has his ups and downs, but he knows who to go to and speaks to them when he is feeling down. He is very resilient and does not let his Cerebral Palsy stop him from doing anything – fuel for his fire,” said Julie.

Laith, one of four children, said he didn’t know what to say when he’d heard about the award. But he soon made up for it and invited his mum, two carers and lots of teachers from Ridgewood to attend the awards night at Ewood Park.