DAVID Potts knocks out a cool £349,000 a year as Tesco's national retail boss in charge of 680 stores.

But his career prospects were not stacking up promisingly when he went to collect his O-level results - and found he'd failed every one.

He recalled his day of disaster at Hartshead School, Stalybridge, in a message to GCSE students through the Manchester Evening News.

He said his early setback was a lesson in triumph out of adversity for those GCSE students who don't do well tomorrow.

Mr Potts, who spent his first 22 years living in Ashton-under-Lyne, admitted collecting no passes in maths, English, French, history and geography.

Disappointed

He was disappointed, but said his refusal to be downhearted about the results helped him climb his way up the corporate ladder.

''I didn't expect to get Fs and my friends all did well, so that was probably a bit tough,'' said Mr Potts.

''I was disappointed about how I got on, but not downhearted.''

By the time he collected his O-level results, he had already started to work as a shop assistant at the local branch of Tesco.

Then when he was 17, he went on the company's store management programme.

Two years later - after successfully resitting exams in maths, English and commerce - Mr Potts was appointed assistant manager at the Hyde store. By the age of 23, he had become the youngest store manager in the country.

Determination

Since then he has continued to lead operations at larger and larger stores, before becoming group manager of up to 250 stores. ''I have put a lot more effort into the last 28 years than in the first 16,'' he said.

His advice for those students who are disappointed with their grades tomorrow was: ''Don't be downhearted about things and enjoy the summer - or what's left of it.

''Reflect honestly on what went wrong and work on that rather than becoming too upset about the results. Every job is what you make it.

''Education is a fantastic thing, but it's not the be-all and end-all.

''It's part of life for better for worse, whether you fail or pass doesn't mean you won't correct it in another way.''

A-LEVEL RESULTS: For your complete round-up see Student Life

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