i got how many a stars?
GCse results special
MARTYN Hett’s sister got 11A*s in her GCSEs after bravely sitting an exam the day after losing her brother in the Manchester Arena bombing.
Nikita Murray, 16, bagged the incredible grades despite learning of her half-brother’s tragic death 24 hours before her first exam.
Martyn was one of the 22 people killed in atrocity on May 22.
Nikita, who attends Stockport Grammar School, bravely decided to carry on with her GCSE exams.
She said: “I decided I wanted to go into school to take my exams, mainly to get out of the house and do something. 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 coordinator made special arrangements so I could go into school after everyone else had started.”
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 proud dad Stuart Murray – Martyn’s stepdad – said: “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.”
Nikita’s older half-brother Dan Hett was also bursting with pride.
Speaking of the day his sister was preparing to leave for her first exam – the day after Martyn’s death – he said: “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 GCSEs. 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 is set to study A levels in maths, further maths, physics and classics at Stockport Grammar.