A Birmingham teenager has been hailed as a model pupil after it was revealed he had not missed a day at school in 11 years.
Robert Nolan, aged 16, from Kingstanding, has enjoyed more than 2,100 days of consecutive attendance - and puts his record down to his determined and proud mother Margaret.
Every day she got him ready and sent him on his way - first to Christ the King Primary and then to Cardinal Wiseman Catholic Technology College, even if he protested or claimed to feel ill.
Even a pair of broken fingers Robert suffered while playing football were not enough to keep him at home.
Mrs Nolan said: "He saw a doctor and was strapped up, other than that he was fine so the next day he went back to class. Education is one of the few things we get for free and I was determined he would not waste it.
"I even sent him one day when the school was closed. He was the only one there in uniform. I sent him out with colds and headaches. If he was really ill the school would call and he could come home."
Leading a healthy lifestyle, he plays football and rugby regularly and eats his five portions of fruit and veg every day.
The teenage Aston Villa fanatic could not even escape when he met his idol, former Villa striker Dion Dublin.
He said: "He signed some shorts for me and mum told him to put that 'Robert must do his homework'. Even he did as he was told.
"I would not dare miss a day, there is no way my mother would stand any messing. Whatever I said she would still make me go."
The football-mad youngster, who plays left back, is set to begin working for his FA Coaching badge this month with local soccer school Building Futures.
He is also a full-time student of health and social care at the Great Barr campus of Sutton Coldfield College, where so far he has not missed a day either.
As well as being given an award for 100 per cent attendance, he scooped Cardinal Wiseman School's award for sportsman of the year.
Technology College coordinator John McGowan said: "Robert is a model pupil and a credit to his mother."
