NO-ONE can accuse Katie Smith of not going the extra mile to secure outstanding A-Level results.
Travelling an hour and a half to college and an hour and a half back every day made sure of that.
The Stalybridge student achieved four A*s in physical education, psychology and biology as well as the extended project qualification (EPQ) at Oldham Sixth Form.
She also passed the test of negotiating the public transport system to and from her studies.
“It was a bit of a trek,” said Katie, who lives in the Quarry Rise area. “I was an hour and a half there and an hour and a half back.
“Two buses each way. One into Ashton, then the 409 to Oldham.
“I’d walk into Stalybridge first of all – sometimes I’d get lucky and it would only take an hour!”
Wit brilliant grades in the bag, Katie will now go on to study ecology and conservation at Lancaster University, with the aim of working on a conservation project abroad.
And she admitted the journeys were ones she had to make, even though there are colleges closer to her home.
She added: “Oldham just felt like the best one for me. I wanted to do PE as one of my subjects too and it was one of the only places that offered it.”