Mum-of-7’s the fruits of

NOTHING was going to stop a heavilypregnant mum taking her GCSE English exam – not even going into labour.

Such was Lyndsay Pott’s determination, she carried on with her final test while having contractions.

The mum-of-six became a mum-ofseven two days later when she gave birth to a healthy baby girl. She also bagged a pass in GCSE English.

Lyndsay, 30, collected her results with baby Poppy in tow at The Manchester College on Thursday.

She said: “It was a week before my exams, at 35 weeks pregnant, when I started with slow labour so I was having a lot of contractions and was having to walk around the classroom for relief.

“But I was determined to sit my exams and managed to take them with the rest of my class.

“Luckily, two days after my final exam, I was admitted into hospital and Poppy was born on June 19.”

Lyndsay, from Ashton in Tameside, bagged a grade 6 pass in GCSE English, and passes in level 2 social sciences, humanities and functional skills maths.

English tutor Nicky Smith said Lyndsay going into labour had exam invigilators a little nervous. Nicky said: “When Lyndsay said she was in slow labour during her exam, I think the exam invigilator was more nervous than her. But she has done brilliantly and we are so proud of her.

“The effort that Lyndsay and the rest of her class have put into their studies is amazing.

“They’ve formed their own study group that meet in the library, and they’ve been supporting each other throughout the course.”

Lyndsay ultimately aims to become a history teacher and will start a level 3 diploma in humanities at The Manchester College next month.

For now, Lyndsay has her hands full with study, looking after nine-week-old Poppy Delia Rose Hassett, and her six other children, who are all under the age of nine.

Lyndsay said the support of her college tutors had been key to her academic success.

She added: “I’d attended a different college before and didn’t get half as much support as they’ve given me here. They helped me with my studies and any missed lessons, and gave our class extra homework when we asked for it. I’m planning on studying my level 3 diploma in humanities from September and I want to be graduating from university in five years before becoming a history teacher.”