Teenager Rachel lost her dad right in the middle of her A levels. Can exam chiefs show her some sympathy?

Jul 24, 2015, 08:42 AM

A North Belfast schoolgirl, who's dad died on the day she was due to sit an A Level exam, has been told she'll get no special treatment after she failed to turn up at the test. Rachel Dean is 18 years old and a pupil at Belfast Model School for Girls and was expected to get As or A stars in her A Levels in English, History and Sociology. However, on June 15, her 48 year old father Graham, collapsed and died at home - just 12 hours before Rachel was due to sit one of her last two sociology papers. She also was unable to attend the second paper on June 18 - the day before her father's funeral. However, after her school applied for special consideration to the AQA exam board she was told there is no allowances being made for her - and her place at Queen's is now in doubt. Our reporter, Nicola Weir, went to speak to her.