Shropshire teen in college bid after battling cancer

Connor Holbrook, 16, from Warrensway in Woodside, Telford, was diagnosed with the condition in February, just three and a half months before he was due to sit his exams.

Doctors said he wasn't fit to sit them because of the effects of the chemotherapy. And Connor's family are now fighting to get their son onto a college course based on his predicted grades.

Jason Holbrook, 39, said that given his son's health problems he hoped education officials would find a way round the situation.

He said: "Connor did well in his mock exams and was predicted to get 10 passes when he took his GCSEs. We want him to get a place at college based on those predicted grades, but we have been told that he could only get that if he had completed 40 per cent of the course

"But as he only missed the last three and a half months of his GCSE courses I don't see how he could have done less than 40 per cent.

"At the moment Connor is studying maths and English at County Training and will sit those exams next year. But he can only do those two core subjects, so the other eight exams he probably would have passed are effectively wasted."

Connor's mom Lisa Holbrook, 33, said her son had loved school and was a model pupil at Lakeside Academy, and was well respected by the teachers. She said: "He was head boy, head prefect, head of the counselling team and never missed a day at school – this just feels like he is being punished for having cancer.

"We spoke to the council's department for education and they couldn't help, so we wrote to the Prime Minister to see if he could help – but the reply from No.10 said they couldn't get involved in individual cases."

Fortunately, the family have had help from Kevin Guy, ward councillor for Woodside, and Jim Collins, the assistant director of education management at Telford & Wrekin Council.

Jason said: "They are trying to secure Connor a place at Telford College of Arts and Technology based on his predicted grades, as he wants to study to become a teacher."

As well as the mental anguish, there has also been a financial impact on the couple, who have four other children. When Connor was diagnosed with leukaemia he was given Disability Living Allowance, but that has now been taken away.

Lisa said: "They have replaced the DLA with Personal Independent Payment, but they say Connor isn't allowed to have that because he is going to County Training.

"We are struggling to cope with the financial impact and losing the DLA made a huge difference – we are on benefits so we are struggling.

"Up until last week we had to take Connor to the Princess Royal Hospital every day and the travel and parking charges mount up."

Jason said that his son was depressed about some things, especially when he sees friends heading off to college. He said: "We have been told there is a 70 per cent chance of a relapse and he is taking an oral treatment for the next two and a half years.

"But we are staying strong and Connor is fighting – we just need some help to turn his dream of being a teacher into reality."