Amazing results for Martyn Hett’s sister
MARTYN Hett’s sister has aced her GCSEs after bravely sitting an exam the day after losing her brother in the Manchester Arena attack.
Nikita Murray, 16, scooped an amazing 11 A*s in her GCSEs despite learning of half-brother Martyn’s death just 24 hours before starting her exams.
Martyn was one of the 22 people killed in the arena atrocity on May 22.
Despite the shock of her 29-year-old brother’s death Nikita, who attends Stockport Grammar School, bravely decided to carry on with her GCSE exams.
“I decided I wanted to go into school to take my exams, mainly to get out of the house and do something,” says Nikita.
“At the time of the attack there were a lot of people around our house. It was nice to have something else to think about.
“Our exams co-ordinator made special arrangements so I could go into school after everyone else had started. That way I didn’t have to see anyone for a start.”
Nikita, who has always worked hard at school, says her results have come as a huge surprise.
She added: “I really like school so I thought I would do all right, but after Martyn died I was expecting lower grades.
“Martyn always used to joke I was bad at maths. I think he would have been quite proud of me.”
Nikita’s family say her results are testament to her resilience following their loss.
Her proud dad Stuart Murray, who was Martyn’s step-dad, said: “It was Nikita’s choice to carry on with her exams.
“One was the day after the attack. We knew she had potential but the fact she chose to carry on shows such resilience and fight.
“It just goes to show you shouldn’t let anything stop you from reaching your dreams.
“We have to thank Sarah Robinson and headteacher Andrew Chicken at Stockport Grammar School for their support too.”
Nikita’s older halfbrother Dan Hett was bursting with pride too.
In series of Tweets, he wrote: “My little sister Nik is an actual hero. Skip back to the literal day after we found out about Martyn being killed.
“We were obviously completely numb, fried, drained. We’d been through something absolutely unreal and were all trying to figure it out.
“I came downstairs, and Nik was sat on the stairs in full school uniform, tying her shoes. I couldn’t understand why.
“I didn’t even know what day it was at that point, it had been such a horrific few days.
“She was putting her shoes on so she could go and sit a bunch of GCSE’s. I was utterly amazed, floored.
“Under the most horrific conditions, after going through (and continuing to go through) it all, she didn’t skip a beat.”
Nikita will go on to study A-levels in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Classics at Stockport Grammar next term.
Headmaster Andrew Chicken said: “We are delighted for Nikita and her family.
“She has achieved exceptional results and her determination in the most distressing of circumstances is truly inspirational.”