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Secondary education

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Original poster

Could Diabetes ruin her chances??

7 replies

emmie555 · 09/03/2011 10:04

Hey there.

My daughter is in year 9 and takes her options any day now. She is also a Type 1 Diabetic and has been very poorly over this year with problems to do with this, which has led to her having poor attendence at school. However, She is very smart and is in all top sets at school except English. In this class, she is just one level below where she needs to be by the end of this year, which we will easily make up.
Our problem is- My daughter wants to choose to study a diploma, which her school offers. Unfortunately, they do need your attendence to be very high due to the fact that the course is coursework based. Can the school refuse my daughter onto this course because of this? I'd hate to thing that her Diabetes will affect her future in this way :(

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 09/03/2011 10:11

If they refuse to allow her onto the course because of her diabetes that would be a breach of disability discrimination legislation. If they refuse because of her poor attendance which is caused by her diabetes they would be on very dodgy ground. Sadly that doesn't mean they won't try to refuse her so you need to talk to the school about this as soon as possible.

crazymum53 · 09/03/2011 14:10

I would have thought this would be a better option as poor health could also affect an examination based course if she is not well enough to do one of the exams!

inspireddance · 09/03/2011 17:45

Dipolma's really rely on coursework being kept on schedule, so if your DD attendance is likely to be poor for KS4 then an exam based course might be better.

mattellie · 10/03/2011 16:16

Surely it?s easier to catch up on coursework than it is a missed exam? If your DD is bright OP, she?ll be able to fit her coursework in and around those periods when she isn?t feeling up to it.

Most T1 diabetics have attendance records below the norm because of hospital visits/stays etc. This does not allow the school to discriminate against her.

It sounds like you should be very proud of her for doing so well despite her diabetes.

Original poster
emmie555 · 11/03/2011 11:10

Thank you for all your help. I am now ready for them if they should try and refuse her :)

Mattellie - I am extremely proud of her. She amazes me everyday.. If i wasn't there at the birth i'd be convinced someone else is her mum lol

OP posts:
mattellie · 11/03/2011 17:55

I?m right with you, Emmie. DD (Y8) also in top sets and has played netball, basketball, rugby, football, athletics and tennis for her school.

Her consultant once told us that an unstable teenage T1 diabetic was about 20 minutes from death on any given day if their sugars suddenly spiralled out of control. I don?t think many people realise the true severity of the condition.

I hope your daughter gets to study what she wants.

Summatontoast · 11/03/2011 18:08

It is great hearing how well your daughters are doing, my DD age 10 is also type1 and I too try my best to not let it stand in her way. I agree with PRH47, the school would be in breach of the Disability Discrimination Act - although they may need reminding of this.
Mattellie you are so right when you say many do not realise the severity of diabetes or the day to day effort involved in trying to control it.
Hope it your DD gets to do what she wants without any hassle.

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