Dyslexia studentexcels by talking to computer

After being diagnosed with the condition when she was just five, the pupil from Poppleton, near York, hoped to be able to achieve success in her GCSEs but did not know how much further her studies would take her.

With the help of speech recognition software, however, she has been able to excel in her A-levels at the city's Mount School, and now has her sights set on a place at university and her dream career.

Using a computer programme which turned her spoken words into written form, Felicity, 18, has been able to secure the grades she needs to study occupational therapy at York St John University from next month.

The teenager, who is the independent Quaker school's head girl, achieved an A in her extended project, a B in sociology, a C in design technology and a D in sports science.

She said: "The programme has made a significant difference to me. I hated it at first and it makes exams more difficult because most students don't have someone over their shoulder reading all their answers but I was tested in a small room and the invigilator can hear everything you say. The programme doesn't do the punctuation or formatting for you but it recognises my voice and puts everything I said into a document.

"Initially I found the process quite intimidating, having a teacher present listening to the answers I give. Although it's time-consuming and I was exhausted from speaking after each exam, the programme has made the whole process more accessible for me, allowing me to concentrate on the actual content of my answers rather than worrying about getting down what I wanted to say."

She is now looking forward to life at university where she will continue to use the software.

"Every since I was 12 I have wanted to work with people with Down's Syndrome and since I was 15 I have been setting my sights on becoming an occupational therapist," Felicity added.

The Mount's principal Julie Lodrick said: "The staff and I are extremely proud of all the girls' achievements. In a first for our school Felicity Knowles used voice recognition technology throughout her A-level studies and for her final examinations.

"This was a considerable challenge and Felicity showed unstinting commitment and determination, which has paid dividends.

"Despite recent headlines, highlighting stiff competition for university places, all the girls have been successful across the board in securing their university course."

Yesterday also marked a major success in overcoming adversity for another Yorkshire student whose battle against ill-health meant she was unable to collect her results.

Philippa Clark, from Wyke College, in Hull, was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in the final year of her A-levels after a bout of serious illness. Medication led to her condition improving but this summer her health deteriorated during her exams and she was forced to go into hospital just days after her last A-level.

Despite this she was able to successfully complete five subjects.

Further tests revealed a muscle between her stomach and intestines was not working and would need to be bypassed. Yesterday, while her classmates went to collect their results at the sixth-form college in Hull, Philippa in a hospital bed awaiting surgery.

Her proud parents collected the results on her behalf and took the envelope to her where the family she discovered that she had picked up two A* stars and achieved the grades she needed to go on to study physics at Manchester University.

Philippa, who had studied at Hymers in Hull before moving to Wyke College, achieved her A*s in maths and physics, an A in further maths, a B in music technology and a C in general studies.

Her father Steve said: "It is a fantastic achievement and we are so proud of her."