When Rosie Lindgren’s carefully laid plan unravelled, resilience and local support swiftly stepped in to rebuild a path that might otherwise have been lost
Rosie Lindgren thought she had found a route to university. Then the company providing her online A level course went into liquidation. Her mother, Kate, explains what happened: ‘She was in Year 13 at Gillingham School and suffering with anxiety. So I suggested she drop Geography – she wasn’t interested in it anyway – and just concentrate on Law and English Literature. We knew she could always take another one afterwards if she needed to.
‘So she did that, and got an A and a B. Obviously, to go to university you need a third grade, and she wants to study Law. She got an offer from Exeter University – if she got a B in another subject, she would be accepted. She was always interested in business, so she looked at doing an A level in Business Studies online.
‘She looked at doing an online A level Business Studies course, and then paid for the online course with her own money. She was 18 at the time, and I as far as I knew she was too old to stay in school. She paid Oxbridge Limited, an online company that had really good feedback on Trustpilot … well, not now they haven’t, but they did then. She spent £1,800 on the course and exam in July last year, and she kept emailing them saying ‘I’ve finished that topic’ and asking ‘what do I do now?’ But no one was responding.’
‘It got to September, and I told Mum ‘No one is replying to any of my emails,’ Rosie says.
‘At the same time we were coping with my father being diagnosed with terminal cancer,’ Kate added. ‘He was more of a dad than a granddad to my two girls, and only 74 when he died.
‘We were handling that at the same time as Rosie was still chasing a reply from Oxbridge Ltd. Then we spotted they had gone into liquidation. We never did get a response.’
SNHS steps in
Not knowing where to turn, Kate posted a message on Facebook asking whether anyone could help. It was a long shot – but luckily, Mrs Liz Neilson, the Business and Economics teacher at Sturminster Newton High School (SNHS), spotted the post. ‘Mrs Neilson got in touch and offered one-to-one lessons,’ Kate told Dorset Life. ‘Rosie was set up with everything she needed. Then, when she met Rosie, she said she had spoken to the school – and they would take her in. She didn’t have to go to lessons, as she was 19 and had a part-time job. And they said they would put her through the exam. I wondered how much it would cost us … and she said it was free. Maybe she saw something in Rosie.’
Headteacher Mike Motteram says the school’s response reflected its ethos: ‘We don’t see supporting a student through unexpected challenges as unusual – it’s simply part of who we are,’ he says. ‘As a rural school in North Dorset, we are very aware that there are often limited alternative pathways available locally. That brings with it a clear moral responsibility: to ensure every young person we serve has access to the very best education and support, whatever their starting point or circumstances. When something goes wrong with a planned route, our instinct is always to look for solutions. While it’s not always possible to accommodate every situation, we always do our utmost to be creative and flexible, because that is what our community expects of us and, importantly, what our students deserve.’
Rosie only had seven months left until exam season. In addition to providing her with two years’ worth of lesson materials so she could catch up, revise and study at her own pace, the school also gave her a computer and the books she needed.
‘They gave her a timetable of lessons and said ‘do what you can’,’ said Kate. ‘She admitted she was quite anxious, and they offered one-to-one tuition.’
‘But they had already been really kind,’ Rosie says. ‘I was not expecting one-to-one tuition, and said I would come into lessons.’ ‘Mrs Neilson went out of her way and reached out to me,’ Kate says. ‘And the school didn’t think twice.’
‘It was extremely generous of Sturminster to take me under its wing,’ says Rosie. ‘I felt very cared for by my teachers and peers, despite joining the school after term had started.’
‘Rosie has now sat the exam,’ says Kate. ’SNHS have been so supportive and really nurtured her. I was amazed. I have lived in Marnhull all my life and I actually sent my two girls to Gillingham. I have nothing at all against Gillingham School, but Stur have been so amazing. If I could do things again, I would have sent them to Sturminster.’
Image: SAST
A shared determination
Mike Motteram explained how staff rallied together to support Rosie: ‘What made this especially powerful was the way our staff came together around the student. It reflects the strength of our school community and the deep commitment of our teachers, sixth form team, pastoral leaders and Head of Sixth Form to putting students first.
‘There was a shared determination to find a way forward, drawing on expertise across subjects and strong pastoral care to build a tailored approach. This is something our staff are highly skilled in – championing young people, thinking creatively and working collaboratively to ensure no student is left without a pathway. It is a real reflection of our values in action and the collective belief that, with the right support, every student can succeed.
‘However, the real star here is Rosie. She has perfectly embodied our school value of resilience, with her determination and willingness to keep going when things became uncertain. She has shown maturity, commitment and a desire to succeed, and it is that attitude which has made the difference.
‘We are all incredibly proud of her and look forward to seeing what she goes on to achieve next.’
Rosie receives her A level results on 13th August and hopes they will secure her place at the University of Exeter.
