Betws-y-Coed girl who left school at 13 is to do college course at 15

Jun 25 2009 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

Charlotte Davies

A HOME-schooled teenager who swapped the tuck shop for photo shop is to start her HND in September. At just 15 years of age Charlotte Davis, from Betws-y-Coed has achieve more than most 18 year-olds in her position after becoming one of the region’s youngest ever HND students.

After deciding to leave school at the tender age of 13, Charlotte or Lottie as she likes to be called, handed in a letter of resignation to her teachers, informing them her creativity was being oppressed at school.

The teenager then opted to stay at home taking on a mixture of home tutoring by her mother Melanie, 47 and teaching herself from books.

But even with no qualification to her name, Lottie has still managed to secure herself an unconditional offer to study for a HND in Photography at Llandrillo collage.

“It was Lottie’s decision to leave school,” explained mum Melanie.

“She felt the school was killing her creativity especially her creative writing. She was so advanced with her grammar and spelling that her teachers did not believe her words were her own which really upset her. She is also very artistic and highly intelligent for her age.”

“It was her decision to leave, which I of course supported,” added Melanie.

The child prodigy had decided she wanted to concentrate on her passion for photography and has been taught at home for the past two years.

Lottie’s decision did not come lightly as she was following in the footsteps of her older brother and sister who were also both home taught and are now both in successful careers.

“Genna, who is 27, now works for the council,” said Melanie.

“She decided she wanted to get her qualifications after being home taught she gained them one after the other and went on to secure a great job.”

Lottie’s brother Kris, 21 has gone on to run his own successful business.

Melanie added: “My children have done very well academically and in their chosen careers and have not been forced into their decisions to be home taught, they make their own decision.”

Melanie added that the children all decided 12 years ago that they did not want a television in the house anymore.

“My mum is great,” said Lottie.

“Since I left school it has been amazing, I have achieved so much and have been able to follow my passion for photography and see it grow into a career.”

samantha.castle