Education, Health & Lifestyle | Posted on August 27th, 2025 | return to news

Top marks for Wimborne girl who hasn’t been to school in five years

Emily Metcalfe has missed the last five years of school due to health issues, but attained the top results in her English GCSEs.

A local girl who has missed the last five years of school due to health issues has managed to receive excellent GCSE results this year.

Emily Metcalfe from Wimborne has suffered from the neurological disorder Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, since she was 12 years old.

As a result of her condition, which often leaves her bedbound and unwell, Emily had to leave Parkstone Grammar School as she was unable to continue to learn there.

Now aged 17, she has not attended any school in person for over five years.

For the past three years, Dorset Council has funded her education with Emily learning at home for one hour a day, four days a week.

“She would need to go to rest in bed before and after each tutoring session,” revealed her mum Rita.

Earlier this year, Emily sat her GCSE exams as an external student in Christchurch. According to Rita, none of the local schools in Wimborne would allow Emily to take her exams there.

Rita said: “Roll on results day, and Emily gained 9s in both of the GCSE subjects she studied for: English Literature and English Language. She actually got one of the highest results in English Literature in England.”

Emily received marks of 120 out of 160 on her English Language exam and 157 out of 160 on her Literature exam. She also received a ‘Distinction’ in her English spoken language exam.

Well done to Emily, a true triumph over adversity.