A STUDENT has battled through great adversity to secure a three-year finance apprenticeship working within the NHS after completing her A-Levels at a Colwyn Bay school.

Lydia Gilman, who studied at Rydal Penrhos School, is following in the footsteps of her mother and father, encapsulating a career in accountancy within the NHS.

For her apprenticeship, Lydia will take the Level 2-4 Association of Accounting Technicians assessments.

Completion of Level 4 is set to provide her with a professional diploma in accountancy.

Lydia was offered a place at the University of Liverpool before opting to go down this career path.

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Her father, Matthew Gilman, said: “The school have been incredibly supportive.

“Having spent 10 months of her last year of school in hospital, the teaching and administration staff went above and beyond to help Lydia through this incredibly difficult time, ensuring she was linked to online lessons and making sure she was provided with the latest worksheets and information.

“Staff even visited her in hospital to provide one-to-one support.

“Her friends have also been a credit to their parents and to Rydal Penrhos in the way in which they have shown great compassion in how to care for and support their peers.”

Despite the obvious challenges, Lydia attained the school’s highest A-Level grade in business.

She became further inspired to go down this route during the school’s Careers Pathway event, where she received excellent individual advice to steer her on the correct path.

“As parents, we could not be prouder,” added Matthew.

“Not only has Lydia been rewarded for her hard work in her recent exam results, but with the help and support received from the school.

“This made a huge difference to her education and wellbeing, for which we are so grateful.”