A-GRADE student Jason Richardson is forging ahead with a new career as he celebrates outstanding GCSE results.

Jason, 16, from Dringhouses, York, is working as an apprentice blacksmith - his dream job - after leaving Oaklands School in Acomb in the summer.

He has just received an A-grade in GCSE in design technology - which covers the traditional woodwork and metalwork areas - a B in history, two Cs in double science and a D in Information Technology.

But what makes his achievements outstanding is that Jason is dyslexic and only a few years ago he was not predicted to get any GCSEs at all.

He passed his exams by dictating his answers to an independent note-taker who took them down word for word. He also passed two other exams in English and French with flying colours.

His mum, Denise Morgan, said: "They examined him on the knowledge in his head. He's been dyslexic all his life and we fought to get him a place with specialist teaching. When he started secondary school he didn't even have a junior school reading level.

"We're so proud of him. He's the first in our family to have an A in any exam. It's absolutely fantastic."

Jason has worked on Saturdays at Don Barker Ltd in Wigginton for two years.

He has now been taken on full time as an apprentice blacksmith and is due to start a day release course at York College next term.

He said: "I was surprised when I got my results and I'm very pleased."

Jason's specialist teacher at Oaklands, Claire Winstanley, said: "Jason has showed outstanding commitment and achievement and had to work very, very hard to overcome his dyslexia, not just difficulties with reading and writing, but with self esteem. He was so committed to his work and did a lot of revision."

Trevor Clark, a director at Don Barkers, said: "He is quite accomplished and artistic and is further along the line than most people we take on because he's been coming here for so long."