Recognition for schoolgirl Jade who hasn’t missed a single day in seven years

Jade-Louise Bedford, who is from the Nevison area of Pontefract, has not been absent at any point during her whole time at Orchard Head Junior, Infant and Nursery .

The youngster, who turned 11 this week, will be moving to secondary school in the autumn but was given a certificate this week for her incredible achievement as the school broke up for the summer holidays.

Like all schools, the Orchard Head Lane school was forced to shut during the outbreak of Covid-19, but Jade-louise continued to receive work.

Her stepdad, Lee Shelton said: “She was disappointed when the school closed for lockdown, but she was sent work which had kept her busy. She really enjoys school and she was over the moon to receive the certificate, she really wanted this.

“There’s been a few times when she might have felt a bit sick but still wanted to go to school because she did not want to lose her attendance record.”

Headteacher at Orchard Head, Joe Mitchell said: “It is extremely rare to have seven years of 100 per cent attendance and this is something that I’ve never known happen before.

“Jade thoroughly deserves recognition for this as she is also an incredibly well-mannered, hard working and diligent pupil. Her attitude towards school attendance is an example for all other pupils to follow and everyone at Orchard Head is incredibly proud of her.”

Unlike many of her friends, Jade-Louise will be attending St Wilfrid’s Catholic School in Featherstone in September.

But it was has failed to dent her hopes of keeping her attendance record.

Mr Shelton added:“Everybody is really proud of her, and she says she is going to try and do it through secondary school, if she could do that it would be brilliant!”