It is that time of year when students discover those all-important exam results.

But one Lowestoft teenager was celebrating an amazing achievement even before he received his GCSE grades – as he has not missed a single day at school since he started out at nursery.

Marlow Spalding, 16, has amazed staff over the years at Poplars Primary and Harris Middle schools in Lowestoft and at Sir John Leman High School in Beccles by maintaining a 100pc attendance record.

And now the keen rugby player has his eyes set on his new target – having a perfect attendance record at Lowestoft Sixth Form College from September where he plans to study biology, PE, sociology and business studies.

Marlow, who lives at Mount Pleasant and is captain and fly-half for Lowestoft and Yarmouth Rugby Club's youth side, was in party mood yesterday after he clinched an impressive set of GCSEs at Sir John Leman – an A* in PE, As in English, religious studies and biology and Bs in English literature and physics.

Asked about the secret of his 100pc attendance, he joked: 'I think I may be indestructible. I don't really ever get ill!'

As well as his excellent GCSE results, Marlow, is hoping that if he can continue his flawless attendance record at the Sixth Form College, it will put him in good stead when he enters the job market.

'It is something I can bring up in job interviews,' he said. 'I think it is a good thing I can mention.'

He also said he believed his good GCSE results were probably helped by 'not missing out on school'.

Praising Marlow's achievement, Sir John Leman's headteacher Jeremy Rowe said: 'There is a strong link between attendance at school and the exam results you achieve.

'We have had a huge push on attendance here and it has made a real difference to our results. Marlow is a good example. It is brilliant.'

Marlow's mother Helen Spalding was justifiably proud of her son's unblemished attendance record and said she would get him a present to celebrate his achievement.

She said: 'Not a lot of parents can say their child has not missed a day of school.

'He has always made the effort to get to school every day. I am very proud of him.'