Indian-origin girl passes UK exams despite going blind

From Aditi Khanna London, Aug 18 (PTI) An 18-year-old Indian-origin girl inthe UK who went partially-blind after she was hit by Glaucomain her left eye today passed all her exams even though she wasunable to attend all her classes. Simran Kaur from Villiers High School in Southall, westLondon, was advised to take a year off but decided to completeher A-Levels, the secondary school leaving qualification inthe UK. Kaur said: "It started pretty much as soon as I startedmy A-levels so you could say it was really bad timing. Theteachers tried to convince me to take a break and do it nextyear". "They were looking out for me but I was so determined Ieven went to the head-teacher to convince him I could do it.He believed in me, which I am so grateful for," she said. Kaur was able to undergo corrective surgery on her eyeonly in July, after her exams. "My friends thought I was crazy taking the exams withoutbeing able to see. I suppose it was but it all worked out. Iwas way behind in my studies and obviously studying was quitehard without being able to see. My sight is good now andeverything is ok but it will always be a time I remember as areal challenge," she told ‘Daily Express’. Kaur has now been offered admission to HertfordshireUniversity but is weighing up her options for university. "I couldn’t be more pleased for Simran. She is a realexample to everyone – students and teachers," said her teacherPatrick Cootes. "She has showed that there are no barriers to success atVilliers High School – if you work hard and follow your dreamsanything is possible," he added. A-Level results were declared across the UK on Thursdaywith girls once again getting better results than boys, with79.7 per cent of girls getting grades A* to C, compared with75 per cent for boys. The year 2016 also marks a record one for students beingoffered university admissions. PTI AK AJR AKJAJR