A Wycombe school has been crowned winner of an Epilepsy Action education award for its work in supporting pupils with epilepsy.

Wycombe High School was nominated for the Edwards Award by Louise Boddy, who says the school has gone above and beyond to help her 19-year-old daughter Hannah, who has the neurological disorder.

Hannah was diagnosed with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy within a month of starting at Wycombe High School at the age of 11.

She has a tonic-clonic seizure every two to three weeks and it can take her as much as four days to fully recover from a seizure – impacting her school attendance.

She also has around 80 absence seizures daily, which affect her memory and means she misses much of her lessons.

The school has provided Hannah with extra tuition, extended deadlines, rest breaks and a laptop to use in exams to help with her studies.

She has also achieved 10 GCSEs and is now studying for her A-Levels over a three-year period, while the school has also arranged for Hannah to have counselling to boost her self-esteem.

The hopeful musician, who plans to start at Leeds Conservatoire this September, also has a student support worker who helps her with both academic and health issues.

The High School, on Marlow Road, was presented with an Edwards award, which celebrates the nation’s “epilepsy education superstars” by Claudia Christie from Epilepsy Action.

Louise, who nominated the school for the award, said: “It is a credit to her and the support she has received that she managed to get 10 GCSEs and is now studying for her A-Levels. 

“I feel totally confident that she is as safe as possible at school and that they will go out of their way to make sure Hannah has everything she needs to perform to the best of her ability.”

Head of sixth form at the school, Ruth Green, said she was “delighted” to have been given the award.

She said: “Hannah is a fantastic and determined student who has overcome tough challenges, and we work to support her in any way we can. It is lovely to receive recognition for our work.” 

Epilepsy affects an estimated 63,400 children and young people aged under 18 in the UK.

To find out more about the Edwards Awards, visit epilepsy.org.uk/Edwards.