MOST children would jump at the chance to have a day off school, but 11-year-old Harry Laycock has never failed to answer the register.

Harry, who lives with mum Julie, dad Phil and 13-year-old sister, Alexandra, in The Grove, Buckden, has made it seven years without missing a single day at Buckden Primary School.

His remarkable run was first the result of luck, but since he started Year 3 Harry has made a conscious effort to avoid missing class, even turning up on crutches after being in hospital the night before with a suspected broken ankle.

All this from a boy whose mother, Julie, says is not overly keen on school.

“He’s a typical little boy and doesn’t really like going to school which makes it even more impressive that he hasn’t had a day off,” she said.

“Initially it was just a coincidence but when he got to the end of Key Stage 1 we said: ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could make it all the way to Year 6.’

“It has been so much pressure this year, every time he has sneezed there has been a panic.”

Michelle Heather, the school’s assistant head, said everyone had got behind Harry and that as far as they were aware he was the only person in the school’s history to achieve the feat.

Harry received a certificate and a specially-made gold badge in an assembly on Friday (July 19).

Harry, who will join his sister at Hinchingbrooke School in September, said: “I’ve had a few days where I wasn’t well and I still went in but most of the time I think I’ve just been lucky.

“When I bruised a bone on my ankle I thought I might have had to have a day off but in the end I was ok.”

Harry said he will try and keep up his impressive attendance at Hinchingbrooke.