Footage obtained by ITV Central appears to show BTEC students at Leicester College waiting outside their exam hall without being able to stick to Covid rules.
A difficult start in life, with family illness, and time in care, but he was determined to achieve - and winning a competition gave him his lucky break.
A headteacher in Mansfield has said "it's not fair" to expect students to sit examinations because they've had different class experiences due to the pandemic.