A “determined” pupil who could not walk upstairs without screaming in pain last year has returned to school and is now taking his GCSE’s.

Bilal Waqi, 15, has just returned to Year 10 in Leytonstone School in Colworth Road full-time after missing much of the previous two years with severe Dyspraxia.

The fifteen-year-old has been in therapy in some form or other since the age of five.

He was still in a wheelchair two years ago but today, thanks to the support of Whipps Cross staff, his family, the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Waltham Forest council’s early support service and teachers, he is walking again.

He has just completed his first full term in school after being home school and has had work experience in the Mayor’s office.

Headteacher Grainne Smyth said: “We had to accommodate him. We altered our schedules so staff would teach his subjects on the ground floor.

“He used to scream in pain every time he climbed the stairs.

“Over the last 12 months, his personal confidence has improved so much it is wonderful.”

“The joined up care of the services around him has been great but most of the credit must go to Bilal.”

Bilal's mother Yasmin said: “If it was not for the school, who did constant meetings and appeals Bilal would not be where he is.

“We saw a surgeon in Stanmore and he said that Bilal’s knees were locked and turning inwards.

“We had to visit regularly and Bilal missed a lot of school.

“Well one day he decided to play football even though he was in a lot of pain. He made his mind up and probably thought he would end up in a wheelchair anyway.

“After that it he was off school for month and everything went downhill. He was in horrific pain, he could not move and was constantly crying with pain.

“While the treatment for Bilal is still going on including weekly sessions with a clinical physiologist, he is now back in school more.

“We have come a long way.

“He couldn’t do simple things like zips but he now has a B in Biology GSCE within one year of studying it.”

Theo Conway-Allen, from the school’s Learning Support Unit, expects big things from Bilal this year.

He said: “Bilal is an A-star student and it is great to have him back.

“He has been very open about his condition and has stood up in front of the class and done speeches on it.

“It is very inspirational to the other students.”

Elijah Bivens is Bilal’s personal trainer who also aided in his recovery.

“I have always said there is a grown man in his body,” he said.

“He is extremely determined you can see it in his face. He was a bit anxious to tackle stairs at first but now he can do it with weights on.

“He stands up tall like a man now I can’t believe he is only 15.”

Bilal said it feels “great” to be back at school and will be taking it one term at a time.

He said: “I had a Chemistry GCSE test today, we will see how it all goes.”