A boy who struggled with a chronic illness through exams has excelled in his A level results.

Aadil Kara, 18, of North Finchley suffered for several years from a chronic illness which flared up during his exams, however he was able to achieve four A*s in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics and will now head to Imperial College, London, to read physics.

The Queen Elizabeth's School pupil said: "The school have been tremendously helpful, especially my head of year and form tutors."

Despite adversity Aadil has also had incredible opportunities during his sixth form years, as one of two boys from the school selected to compete in a space design competition as as part of the European Union team, taking him to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

He said: "It was a brilliant, fantastic experience – I learned a lot about working with different people across different cultures."

The chess club member and member of the UK Mathematics Trust mentoring scheme, where he mentors younger boys, has been a pupil at the school for all seven years of his secondary school career.