Dyslexic pupil who was rejected by 30 schools now thriving in Wales
A teenager with severe dyslexia who was turned away by 30 schools in England because of his learning difficulties is now thriving and preparing to take his GCSEs at a school in Llandudno.
Jack Harley-Walsh is dyslexic and discalculic, which means he struggles with reading and writing, and with numbers. He's 16 years and studying at the private St David's College in the town.
Our Education Reporter Tom Sheldrick went to meet him:
What is dyslexia and what is provision like for most pupils in Wales?
Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that makes it hard to learn to read and spell. Dyscalculia is broadly similar, but affects arithmetic.
Around one in ten children have some form of the conditions - the majority are not able to attend private, or specialist schools - and will be receive mainstream education.
SNAP Cymru support families and young people in relation to additional learning needs. The charity's Chief Executive, Denise Inger, says young people with dyslexia often have problems with coordination, processing information, and self-esteem.
She told ITV News that "we have made some strides forward" in school provision for these pupils, but "diagnosis is still patchy", and there are concerns about the impact of budget cuts on specialist support.
Watch her interview with our presenter Andrea Byrne on Wales at Six:
Click here for more information via the SNAP Cymru website
The Welsh Government has acknowledged "more can be done" to help pupils with dyslexia, and it is introducing new legislation, and focusing on better training for teachers.
Jack's inspirational story:
Jack has severe dyslexia and discalculia, which means he struggles with both reading and spelling, and with numbers.
He's originally from Ascot, Berkshire, and our colleagues at ITV News Meridian, in the South East of England, filmed with him back in 2010.
He was 11 then and had struggled at primary school because of a lack of specialist provision for him. He could not find a secondary school - 30 in England turned him down because they could not accommodate his severe learning difficulties.
Eventually, his mother found St David's College in Llandudno. It is a private mainstream school, but specialises in providing for pupils with specific needs, particularly dyslexia.
Jack now boards here, more than 200 miles from home. It costs his mother nearly £30,000 per year in fees.
When he started at the school three and half years ago, Jack could not even spell his own name.
But, at St David's, pupils like Jack get extra help with reading, writing and maths, in one-to-one sessions twice a week.
Improvements in his key skills have boosted Jack's confidence, and allowed him to access other subjects.
All of the teachers at St David's are trained in providing for pupils with specific learning difficulties. There are normally only around eight pupils in each class.
Jack is now 16, and preparing to take seven GCSEs this summer. He's aiming for C grades. He hopes to become an engineer in the RAF one day.