Mother of cancer teen 'forced to take GCSEs' in hospital hits out at exam board decision

25 May 2022, 10:54

'They've offered that she can sit an exam in hospital, but there's a good reason she's there.'

By Seán Hickey

The mother of a cancer-stricken 16-year-old hits out at the system which is 'forcing' her daughter to take her GCSEs from her hospital bed.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Emma Sanderson is the mother of Grace, a student at Northallerton High School who was tragically diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia on March 11, 2022. Ms Sanderson told Nick Ferrari that her daughter is set to undergo her third round of chemotherapy next week, having had a lumbar puncture this week to test for cancer cells in her spinal cord.

Read more: Teen with cancer 'forced to do GCSE exams' despite spending months in hospital

Ms Sanderson went on to explain that her daughter was planning to take 8 GCSEs before her diagnosis, but is now of course unable to do so.

The GCSE exam board has said Grace will receive no grades if she is not well enough to complete the exams this summer.

She called on the exam board to "give [Grace] a grade more than likely based on how she does on the day", telling LBC listeners that her daughter has already taken her mock exams and excelled.

Grace is intending to take three GCSEs, while deferring her Maths and English exams to November during the resits, Ms Sanderson explained to Nick.

Wes Streeting opens up about cancer diagnosis

She hit out at the exam board decision, with Nick pointing to the obvious difficulty of taking crucial exams in between gruelling chemotherapy sessions.

"You shouldn't be trying to push yourself to sit an exam" Ms Sanderson insisted.

Ms Sanderson's constituency MP is Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who has written to the Schools Minister Robin Walker to find a solution for Grace.

"He writes a nice letter, but he doesn't achieve an awful lot for you, does he?" Nick said of Mr Walker.

Read more: Minister calls for collaboration to tackle 'absolutely horrific' spiking of students

Ms Sanderson remained hopeful, noting that whilst the Minister hasn't been much help so far, her petition to demand action for Grace and other students in her position "seems to be gathering quite a lot of pace."

She went on to state that her school "have been very supportive" of Grace during the crisis, and they are "happy to keep her in" for the A-Level cycle.

Ms Sanderson told Nick that her daughter is eager to "carry on as normal" and get through her battle with leukaemia as soon as possible. She finished her conversation with Nick by dismissing the idea that Grace repeats Year 11, as she would no longer have her friends in her class.

You can sign Grace's petition here.

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

Exclusive
Israel must 'square the circle to get hostages out' as Israeli President labels 500 day wait 'tormenting, aching and painful’

Israel must 'square the circle to get hostages out' says President, labelling 500 day wait 'tormenting, aching and painful’

Nigel Farage 'reduced to tears' over ECHR rule which saw Albanian criminal's deportation 'halted over chicken nuggets'

Nigel Farage 'reduced to tears' over ECHR rule which saw Albanian criminal's deportation 'halted over chicken nuggets'

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage joins farmers and their tractors at Belmont Farm in north London

Farage urges farmers to 'keep the pressure up' as tractor protest hits Westminster over Labour’s ‘family farm tax’

Exclusive
Calls for police to reinvestigate parish councillor who 'blew up' neighbour's cat

Parish councillor resigns after being accused of trying to ‘blow up’ beloved pet cat

Exclusive
Calls for police to reinvestigate parish councillor who 'blew up' neighbour's cat

‘It made me feel physically sick’: Cat owner’s fury at parish councillor accused of trying to ‘blow up’ beloved pet

Nick Ferrari Reflects on an Unforgettable Journey to Auschwitz-Birkenau with Holocaust Survivor Arek Hersh

Nick Ferrari reflects on an unforgettable journey to Auschwitz-Birkenau with Holocaust survivor Arek Hersh

Actress and Writer Dame Maureen Lipman reads The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin

Actress and Writer Dame Maureen Lipman reads The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin

Exclusive
Online extremism under scrutiny: The Prime Minister calls for tougher regulations to curb access to violent content following the Southport murders.

Terrorism ‘kill guides’ shared in social media groups targeting 'loners' and people 'obsessed with violence'

Southport attack was ‘not an act of terrorism,’ Met chief Sir Mark Rowley tells LBC

Southport attack was ‘not an act of terrorism,’ Met chief Sir Mark Rowley tells LBC

Exclusive
The Chagos Islands deal is set to be a 'disaster' for US-UK relations, a former Home Secretary has said

'Surrender' of Chagos Islands to Mauritius would be 'disaster' for Labour's relationship with Trump, Braverman says

Exclusive
Britain's deal to cede the Chagos Islands has been cast into doubt

Labour deal to hand over Chagos Islands thrown into doubt as Starmer gives Trump time to 'consider' agreement

Exclusive
The UK and Mauritius said they have made "good progress" on a revised agreement, with Mauritian PM Navin Ramgoolam claiming the UK wants it finalised before Donald Trump is sworn in as president on January 20.

UK 'mid negotiation' over Chagos deal as government deny they're rushing deal through before Trump takes office

Rachel Reeves says UK must go 'further and faster' in search of growth - as Chancellor faces criticism over China visit

Rachel Reeves says UK must go 'further and faster' in search of growth - as Chancellor faces criticism over China visit

Rachel Reeves faces growing scrutiny as market jitters spark calls for fiscal clarity

Rachel Reeves faces growing pressure as market turmoil raises questions over Labour's fiscal credibility

Exclusive
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York 'thrilled' to support Nick Ferrari's Kids Who Read Succeed campaign.

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York 'thrilled' to support Nick Ferrari's Kids Who Read Succeed campaign

Reform is “fixed” in favour of Nigel Farage, former deputy leader claims as he hits back at former boss

Reform is 'fixed' in favour of Nigel Farage, former deputy leader claims as he hits back at former boss