A TEENAGER has reached the end of his school education without taking a single day off.
Callum Rollinson, 16, has not missed a lesson since he was four years old because he says he has never been ill on a school day.
Even if he had been tempted to have a crafty day in bed, fooling his teacher mum Tina would have proved harder than an algebra lesson.
Callum, a Year 11 pupil at Cottingham High School, said: "It is just down to me not being ill, but I do see it as an achievement and something to be proud of as not many kids can say they have done it.
"I have always liked school."
Callum's dedication to school life was first noticed as he left Croxby Primary School aged 11.
After being praised in a special leaving assembly in front of his school pals, he decided to do his best to make it to the end of secondary school with 100 per cent attendance.
It became an ongoing joke with his mum, a teacher at Wilberforce College, dad Tony and big brother Josh, 21.
Callum, of Inglemire Lane, Hull, said: "I knew I was going to try to not have a day off, so even if I did feel a little ill, I would always go in.
"My mum wouldn't let me stay at home for nothing. She has definitely had something to do with it, she has always pushed me to go to school.
"It has definitely helped me with my school work because I have been to all my lessons so I have learned more."
He is now about to sit his GCSEs before starting his engineering apprenticeship at HETA in September.
Callum is determined to continue his perfect attendance until he qualifies in four years' time.
"It proves I am dedicated to something," he said.
"Going to school is something that has taken up the majority of my life, so it shows I am capable of sticking to something.
"It looks great on my CV and I think it definitely helped me get my apprenticeship."
Only a handful of Callum's friends and teachers know of his remarkable achievement, but mum Tina wants her son to get the recognition he deserves.
She said: "I have heard every excuse for a day off school in my career but Callum has never woken up and said he's got a headache or belly ache, he has always just got up and gone to school.
"When he made his first year at secondary school we would say to him 'another year down, you can't have a day off now' and he never asked for one. He has done really well."
Tina now hopes it will help him secure a good job when he finishes his apprenticeship.
She said: "He has a good, strong work ethic and if he can keep it up for another four years, that would be amazing.
"We are all very proud of him."
Excuses, excuses ...
According to the School-Survival.net forum, these are real excuses given by parents to teachers to excuse their children from school and lessons.
• Please excuse Joyce from PE for a few days. Yesterday she fell off a tree and misplaced her hip.
• Please excuse Ray from school on Friday. He has very loose vowels.
• George was absent yesterday because he had a stomach.
• Ralph was absent yesterday because he had a sore trout.
• Please excuse Sara for being absent. She was sick and I had her shot.
• I'm sorry Tyler can't go to school today because his hormones are raging.
• Please excuse Casey from school. It was Take Your Daughter To Work Day. I don't have a job, so I made her stay home and do housework.
• Al was not in school yesterday because he didn't feel like going.
• Please excuse Ryan's absence He has smoked too much weed over the last few days and is extremely tired.
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