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Abstract

Employers might want to keep an eye out for one Harry Grubb, a teenager from Clerkenwell who can be counted on never to pull a sickie.

Harry, 16, of Great Percy Street, has just completed his GCSEs at London Nautical School, in Blackfriars, never having missed a single day in the classroom since he began school at the age of four. And he’s never been late either.

Harry’s brothers 21-year-old Joe – now a cover teacher at the school – and Ronnie, 19, also managed a 100 per cent attendance record at Nautical, but their younger brother was the only one to pull off the feat at Clerkenwell Parochial primary school as well.

“When I was at primary school my mum used to tell me to go to school even if I was a bit ill,” Harry said.

“But in secondary school I really started wanting to complete the record. I’ve always gone in, and I’ve never been late. Sometimes I had to run from the bus with one minute to go but I’ve always made it.”

The keen footballer and swimming coach, who aspires to a career in sport, is due to start his A-levels at London Nautical School next month, studying PE, business and biology.

Asked whether other students tease him about his unblemished attendance sheet, Harry said: “My classmates all know, and they actually kind of supported me to get to 100 per cent. Some told me they didn’t want me to get ill in the last few weeks so I would make it.”

His mother Jenny added: “Lemsip is a wonderful thing. Even if they were ill I always told them to come shopping with me instead, because that’s what I was doing. There was no sitting at home playing PlayStation. So they just went to school.

“At Clerkenwell Parochial they used to give the boys gold stars if they managed it for a whole year. When Harry finished primary school I had 15 gold stars.”

Harry, who was pictured with six gold stars on his school uniform when he left Clerkenwell Parochial five years ago, added: “In the end my collar was getting very heavy.”

He is determined to keep the record up during his A-levels. “I want to keep it going when I go to work as well,” he said. “I will definitely put it on my CV.”

His mother added: “I am proud of him, definitely. It’s quite an achievement.”

London Nautical School head of English Chris Waugh said: “Harry has been a tremendously committed student of English. His success can be directly ascribed to his indefatigable determination, which is best represented in his perfect attendance record.

“Something like that doesn’t simply come about by accident – it’s a result of his quiet, uncompromising dedication to his learning.

“Harry is proof that if you keep working at something for long enough, success will follow. And he’s a thoroughly nice lad too.”