Jamie Fellows, a former nurse who left school without 'A' levels, has won an effective practice award for students at Peninsula Dental School, Plymouth.

Jamie, who is severely dyslexic, joined the navy after leaving school, and was funded to take a degree in nursing. But in January 2007, following a severe ankle injury, he had to leave the navy and applied for the first intake of students at Peninsula Dental School in September last year.

At the end of the first year he has been awarded a £250 prize funded by Henry Schein Minerva, for outstanding dedication and clinical knowledge. 'I've found it quite hard at times tackling subjects such as embryology, which I've never done before, but I really enjoy the contact with patients,' he said. Students at Peninsula, the UK's newest dental school, see patients from the first year.

Jamie, who is funding himself by working part-time as a nurse in an accident and emergency department, said he experienced dental access problems first-hand on leaving the navy, and he hopes to practise in the south west.