Top of the class - not a single day missed of school in 12 years by Chamberlayne pupil Sawyer Anthony

The 16-year-old has ended his school days with a 100 per cent record, having never missed a day’s lessons.

Sawyer, from Southampton, has been at his desk for every one of the 2,280 days over 12 years in education.

But it hasn’t always been easy.

The 16-year-old’s first school was Stamshaw Infant School in Portsmouth, but when his family moved to a bigger house in Woolston, Southampton, in 2004, he went the extra mile as he continued to make it to school every day even though his journey was more than ten times the distance of his classmates’ journeys.

He then went to Weston Park Junior School, which was closer to home before moving on to Chamberlayne College for the Arts in Weston, Southampton in 2008.

Sawyer’s mum Mechelle Squires, said: “He’s had the odd headache but he’s taken a pain killer and muscled through.

“I just wanted him to do better than me really, so I made sure he was there on time and presentable every day.

“It got to a couple of years ago and we thought we have to keep going now.

“He never came home saying he didn’t enjoy his day.”

Head teacher Ewan Scott said: “It’s just phenomenal.

I’ve never heard of this before. “There’s a direct link between missing days and losing grades at school and the level of success they have in later life.

“Sawyer is always the one who’s polite, on task, focused and always willing to go the extra mile.”

Sawyer, who has a ten-yearold sister and four-year-old brother, is expected to get 11 GCSEs including five A-C grades when he gets his results in August.

He hopes to continue his excellent attendance rates when he starts a carpentry course at Southampton City College in September.

Sawyer Anthony, centre, with headteacher Ewan Scott, mum Mechelle Squires and executive headteacher Susan Trigger

Sawyer was one of scores of Year 11 pupils at Chamberlayne College for the Arts who released balloons into the sky as they said final farewells.

The children attached their dreams and wishes to the coloured balloons and let them go, watched by tearful parents.

In the past some have reached as far as Paris.

The balloon release was followed by an assembly featuring poetry, music and dance by school leavers and some teachers.

• Have you never missed a day at school or work? Contact the Daily Echo newsdesk on 023 8042 4522 or at newsdesk@dailyecho.co.uk.