'Get pregnant to stay in school'

Kirsty Oldfield

A penniless pupil claims she has been told the only way she can continue her A-level studies is to become pregnant.

Kirsty Oldfield, whose parents died eight months apart, feared she would have to drop out of school because she could no longer afford to stay on.

The 17-year-old said a benefits adviser told her that having a baby would allow her to keep her state hand-outs.

But Kirsty, who has taken part-time jobs to fund her studies, said: 'I don't want to do that because it is wasting my life.'

The teenager battled on despite the deaths of her parents, Chris and Jackie, to achieve four A-grades in her GCSEs.

With only state benefits and her savings to live on, she moved in with her older stepsister and tried to continue her studies.

But her income support and benefits were taken away because she earned too much – £150 a week – working part-time as a chef.

Despite cutting her working hours to 14 a week, she still cannot claim a penny.

The pupil from Salt Grammar School in Baildon, West Yorkshire, is now struggling to continue her education at a time when the Government wants to raise the schoolleaving age to 18 by 2015.

Kirsty, 17, said: 'I told my head teacher I might be dropping out. My benefits adviser said the only way I can claim anything is by becoming pregnant.'

Teacher Max Robinson said: 'When her mum died and she battled on at school, she was unbelievable. Then she lost her dad and was still coming into school. She's a role model.'

Her MP, Philip Davies, said: 'If anybody is in a position to help, then I couldn't think of anyone more deserving.'

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So what is there to even discuss here. We have a girl here who at 17 must make her own path in life and live with the fact that both her parents have passed. This is at one point very inspiring and yet very sad, when most girls at her age are enjoying life growing up and having the financial comfort of their parents and the support while She will be instantly be put in a very limited position. So, simply instead of giving your money to charities where it will get filtered down and a certain amount will wind up going to the people it is intended too,how about we all look at it like this. It's an investment for all of us, she educates herself feeds herself and later contibutes. Of course my thinking is very foolish - the states rules are much more appropriate - let her get pregnant, stumble get sympathy get a check, now if you will excuse me I am about to go and throw up. I pledge 300 pounds from canada, let others match it, have the media who ran this story open her an account now.

- Greg Moffatt, Cheltenham , Ontario ,Canada

Kirsty is amazing! She has gone through a lot but has come out the other side with a smile on her face! She is working hard at school and deserves help from as many people as possible. Pregnancy is not an option for her, she wants to live a life before she has kids. I cant believe this country gives benefits to people who get pregnant for the wrong reasons!
Please help her!

- Jess Jones, Bradford

To reply to Nicol Caplin, Portsmouth UK...I think it is very sad that you want publicity this badly. I've known Kirsty for many years and she didn't ask for all this money and the publicity- it just happened. Publicity isn't everything so grow up!

- ?, Bradford, UK

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