by . claire bates . published : . 05:01 est , 13 february 2013 . pupils applying to cambridge university may have to take an entrance test next year for the first time in almost 30 years . tutors are deciding whether to bring back the exams , which would be designed to select the exceptional applicants . | . updated : . 08:04 est , 13 february 2013 . deryn blackwell , from watton , is currently being treated for two forms of cancer . the university said recent changes to the exams system made it more difficult to decide which students to admit . pupils applying to cambridge university may have to take an entrance test next year for the first time in almost 30 years . according to trade magazine schools week , documents presented to senior tutors say the university is ` being forced ' into changing its system of using as-levels to assess applicants . the paper says that gcses ` will not give us a reliable measure ' due to their ongoing reform and that ` schools ' predictions of grades will be next to useless ' . at present , the university uses unified mark scheme -lrb- ums -rrb- scores calculated from students ' performance in their as-levels - which are known when they apply to university - to decide which applicants are invited to interview . but under coalition reforms planned to ` toughen up ' the qualifications , as exams will be optional for cohorts starting this september and scores will no longer contribute to the overall a-level . the labour party has pledged to halt the changes and retain as-levels . university departments have now been asked for their views on a ` main proposal ' to reintroduce the tests from the 2016-17 admissions round . under coalition reforms planned to ` toughen up ' the qualifications , as exams will be optional for cohorts starting this september . mike sewell , director of admissions for the cambridge colleges , said : ` in the light of the recent a-level reforms , the university is in the process of considering all options available so that we may continue meeting our goal of admitting the best and brightest students from all backgrounds . ' oxford university already uses subject-specific aptitude tests . most of its admission tests are organised by the admissions testing service . the disclosure has been met with concern by school leaders , who said institutions with fewer resources may not be able to properly equip pupils for the tests . when deryn blackwell was diagnosed with leukaemia , his parents thought things could n't get any worse . but two years into his cancer battle , doctors discovered the brave boy had developed another deadly form of the disease - and he was the only person in the world to suffer from both conditions . the 13-year-old 's mother callie , 32 , said : ` my son is fighting two cancers - leukaemia . and langerhans cell sarcoma . ` he is truly just one in seven billion all over the world . ' it has been a rollercoaster ride for the family from watton , norfolk . the youngster was first diagnosed with leukaemia in july 2010 after his glands swelled and he lost his appetite . then three months into his treatment , he suffered appendicitis . he was . given just a 20 per cent chance of recovery from the operation because he had . so few white blood cells and his platelets were so low . thankfully , surgery was a success and by may 2011 he was in remission . he returned to school that september and his parents started to hope that they were out of the woods . by august 2012 , deryn faced just one more year of treatment , when he started complaining about pain in his tonsils . eddie playfair , principal of newham sixth form college , london , said : ` there 's a danger students in smaller sixth forms do n't have the same resources and might lose out . ` it could be one more barrier in the way . ' he was seen by a specialist who decided to remove them straight away . ` the ent surgeon told me that deryn 's tonsils were very large , very hard , . almost rock-like and extremely difficult the remove . he was . so shocked by the condition of his tonsils that he immediately sent them . away for analysis , ' mrs blackwell wrote on her blog . tests revealed deryn not only had leukaemia , he had now also developed a type of cancer called langerhans cell . sarcoma . the cancer is so rare that there are thought to be just four other sufferers worldwide . sarcomas are a deadly group of cancers which strike the connective tissues , including fat , muscle , cartilage and bone . the world 's top oncology consultants have now got together to decide on the best course of treatment for deryn as they bid to tackle a health case which is unique and unprecedented . as a result , deryn will head to bristol royal hospital for children for a vital life-saving bone marrow transplant . while preparing for the make-or-break journey , callie and her husband simon , 33 , praised their son 's incredible bravery and inner strength as he faces months away from home . our brave boy : simon and callie are taking deryn to bristol royal hospital for children for a vital life-saving bone marrow transplant . deryn will be totally isolated from the outside world for most of the time as he is stripped of his immune system and surgeons blast him with as much radiotherapy as his young body can take . ` we are prepared to stay at least three months in bristol with deryn , ' said mrs blackwell , who also has a younger son , dylan , eight . ` but that is if it is straightforward and nothing is ever straightforward with deryn . ` the sarcoma cancer is so rare that they have never even treated it before but they have decided this is the best course of treatment . ` it is called an r3 protocol , which involves 12 days of conditioning , total body radiotherapy and targeted radiotherapy to his throat - which is where they found the tumours originally . ' deryn is set to have his crucial bone marrow transplant on march 1 and he will then be put in total isolation for between three and seven months . all being well , the teenager will then be transferred to addenbrookes hospital , cambridge , for at least a further month of intensive treatment and recovery care . the pupil will then need to have all his childhood jabs again as he confronts his biggest challenge to date . courage : deryn blackwell enjoys a special day out with the marines . deryn with his mother callie . he is top of his class at school and wants to be a doctor . his father said : ` he does n't want to go because he has just been in hospital for three months having intensive chemotherapy and only been home for two weeks . ` he will have to go back into that routine again but he is so positive at the same time and wants to get it over with , to get fixed and get back to school . ` deryn is so bright - he 's top of the class in everything he does and he wants to be a doctor . ' friends and family have rallied around to help pay for travel costs and allow deryn 's parents to take time off work to care for him . the family 's foundation , doeverything , has now raised more than # 7,000 . mr and mrs blackwell hope to register it as a charity when deryn is well again to help other children who have cancer relapses . mr blackwell said : ` deryn is 100 per cent certain that he will come through this very tough time . ` but whatever happens he will have to have blood tests for the rest of his life and there are other risks such as cataracts and infertility . ` but the way deryn deals with his own mortality is incredible and it helps everyone else deal with it , too . ` he believes that once this year is over he has the rest of his life to do what he wants and we are all totally behind him . '
deryn blackwell was diagnosed with leukaemia when he was 10 . he was then diagnosed with langerhans cell sarcoma when he was 12 . doctors say he is only person in the world to be fighting both conditions . the brave boy will undergo a bone marrow transplant in march .
september and scores will no longer contribute to the overall a-level . the labour party has pledged to halt the changes and retain as-levels . university departments have now been asked for their views on a ` main proposal ' to reintroduce the tests from the 2016-17 admissions round . under coalition reforms planned to ` toughen up ' the qualifications , as exams will be optional for cohorts starting this september . mike sewell , director of admissions for the cambridge colleges , said : ` in the light of the recent a-level reforms , the university is in the process of considering all options available so that we may continue meeting our goal of admitting the best and brightest students from all backgrounds . ' oxford university already uses subject-specific aptitude tests . most of its admission tests are organised by the admissions testing service . the disclosure has been met with concern by school leaders , who said institutions with fewer resources may not be able to properly equip pupils for the tests . when deryn blackwell was diagnosed with leukaemia , his parents thought things could n't get any worse . but two years into his cancer battle , doctors discovered the brave boy had developed another deadly form of the disease - and he was the only person in the world to suffer from both conditions . the 13-year-old 's mother callie , 32 , said : ` my son is fighting two cancers - leukaemia . and langerhans cell sarcoma analysis , ' mrs blackwell wrote on her blog . tests revealed deryn not only had leukaemia , he had now also developed a type of cancer called langerhans cell . sarcoma . the cancer is so rare that there are thought to be just four other sufferers worldwide . sarcomas are a deadly group of cancers which strike the connective tissues , including fat , muscle , cartilage and bone . the world 's top oncology consultants have now got together to decide on the best course of treatment for deryn as they bid to tackle a health case which is unique and unprecedented . as a result , deryn will head to bristol royal hospital for children for a vital life-saving bone marrow transplant . while preparing for the make-or-break journey , callie and her husband simon , 33 , praised their son 's incredible bravery and inner strength as he faces months away from home . our brave boy : simon and callie are taking deryn to bristol royal hospital for children for a vital life-saving bone marrow transplant . deryn will be totally isolated from the outside world for most of the time as he is stripped of his immune system and surgeons blast him with as much radiotherapy as his young body can take . ` we are prepared to stay at least three months in bristol with deryn , ' said mrs blackwell , who also has a younger son , dylan , eight . ` but that is if it is straightforward and nothing is ever straightforward with deryn . ` the sarcoma cancer is so rare that they have never even treated it before but they have decided this is the best course of treatment . ` it is called an r3 protocol , which involves 12 days of conditioning , total body radiotherapy and targeted radiotherapy to his throat - which is where they found the tumours originally . ' deryn is set to have his crucial bone marrow transplant on march 1 and he will then be put in total isolation for between three and seven months . all being well , the teenager will then be transferred to addenbrookes hospital , cambridge , for at least a further month of intensive treatment and recovery care . the pupil will then need to have all his childhood jabs again as he confronts his biggest challenge to date . courage : deryn blackwell enjoys a special day out with the marines . deryn with his mother callie . he is top of his class at school and wants to be a doctor . his father said : ` he does n't want to go because he has just been in hospital for three months having intensive chemotherapy and only been home for two weeks . ` he will have to go back into that routine again but he is so positive at the same time and wants to get it over with , to get fixed and get back to school . ` deryn is so bright - he 's top of the class in everything he does and he wants to be a doctor . ' friends and family have rallied around to help pay for travel costs and allow deryn 's parents to take time off work to care for him . the family 's foundation , doeverything , has now raised more than # 7,000 . mr and mrs blackwell hope to register it as a charity when deryn is well again to help other children who have cancer relapses . mr blackwell said : ` deryn is 100 per cent certain that he will come through this very tough time . ` but whatever happens he will have to have blood tests for the rest of his life and there are other risks such as cataracts and infertility . ` but the way deryn deals with his own mortality is incredible and it helps everyone else deal with it , too . ` he believes that once this year is over he has the rest of his life to do what he wants and we are all totally behind him . '
university already uses subject-specific aptitude tests . most of its admission tests are organised by the admissions testing service . the disclosure has been met with concern by school leaders , who said institutions with fewer resources may not be able to properly equip pupils for the tests . when deryn blackwell was diagnosed with leukaemia , his parents thought things could n't get any worse . but two years into his cancer battle , doctors discovered the brave boy had developed another deadly form of the disease - and he was the only person in the world to suffer from both conditions . the 13-year-old 's mother callie , 32 , said : ` my son is fighting two cancers - leukaemia . and langerhans cell sarcoma . ` he is truly just one in seven billion all over the world . ' it has been a rollercoaster ride for the family from watton , norfolk . the youngster was first diagnosed with leukaemia in july 2010 after his glands swelled and he lost his appetite . then three months into his treatment , he suffered appendicitis . he was . given just a 20 per cent chance of recovery from the operation because he had . so few white blood cells and his platelets were so low . thankfully , surgery was a success and by may 2011 he was in remission . he returned to school that september and his parents started to hope that they were out of the woods . by analysis , ' mrs blackwell wrote on her blog . tests revealed deryn not only had leukaemia , he had now also developed a type of cancer called langerhans cell . sarcoma . the cancer is so rare that there are thought to be just four other sufferers worldwide . sarcomas are a deadly group of cancers which strike the connective tissues , including fat , muscle , cartilage and bone . the world 's top oncology consultants have now got together to decide on the best course of treatment for deryn as they bid to tackle a health case which is unique and unprecedented . as a result , deryn will head to bristol royal hospital for children for a vital life-saving bone marrow transplant . while preparing for the make-or-break journey , callie and her husband simon , 33 , praised their son 's incredible bravery and inner strength as he faces months away from home . our brave boy : simon and callie are taking deryn to bristol royal hospital for children for a vital life-saving bone marrow transplant . deryn will be totally isolated from the outside world for most of the time as he is stripped of his immune system and surgeons blast him with as much radiotherapy as his young body can take . ` we are prepared to stay at least three months in bristol with deryn , ' said mrs blackwell , who also has a younger son , dylan , eight . ` but that is if it is straightforward and nothing is ever straightforward with deryn . ` the sarcoma cancer is so rare that they have never even treated it before but they have decided this is the best course of treatment . ` it is called an r3 protocol , which involves 12 days of conditioning , total body radiotherapy and targeted radiotherapy to his throat - which is where they found the tumours originally . ' deryn is set to have his crucial bone marrow transplant on march 1 and he will then be put in total isolation for between three and seven months . all being well , the teenager will then be transferred to addenbrookes hospital , cambridge , for at least a further month of intensive treatment and recovery care . the pupil will then need to have all his childhood jabs again as he confronts his biggest challenge to date . courage : deryn blackwell enjoys a special day out with the marines . deryn with his mother callie . he is top of his class at school and wants to be a doctor . his father said : ` he does n't want to go because he has just been in hospital for three months having intensive chemotherapy and only been home for two weeks . ` he will have to go back into that routine again but he is so positive at the same time and wants to get it over with , to get fixed and get back to school . ` deryn is so bright - he 's top of the class in everything he does and he wants to be a doctor . ' friends and family have rallied around to help pay for travel costs and allow deryn 's parents to take time off work to care for him . the family 's foundation , doeverything , has now raised more than # 7,000 . mr and mrs blackwell hope to register it as a charity when deryn is well again to help other children who have cancer relapses . mr blackwell said : ` deryn is 100 per cent certain that he will come through this very tough time . ` but whatever happens he will have to have blood tests for the rest of his life and there are other risks such as cataracts and infertility . ` but the way deryn deals with his own mortality is incredible and it helps everyone else deal with it , too . ` he believes that once this year is over he has the rest of his life to do what he wants and we are all totally behind him . '
by. claire bates. published :. 05:01 est, 13 february. pupils applying cambridge university may take an entrance test next for. tutors are deciding bring the exams, would designed select the exceptional applicants. |. updated :. 08:04 est, 13 february. deryn blackwell, from watton, is currently being treated two forms. the university said recent changes the exams system made decide admit. pupils applying cambridge university may take an entrance test next for. according trade magazine schools week, documents presented senior tutors say the university ` being ' into changing using as-levels assess applicants. the paper says gcses ` will give a reliable measure ' due their ongoing reform that schools ' predictions grades next. at present, the university uses unified mark scheme -lrb- ums -rrb- scores calculated students ' performance in their as-levels - which known when apply decide which applicants invited interview. but under coalition reforms planned ` toughen ' the qualifications, as exams will optional cohorts starting this september scores no contribute the overall a-level. the labour party pledged halt the changes and retain as-levels. university departments have now asked for a ` main proposal reintroduce the tests from 2016 admissions round. under coalition reforms planned ` toughen ' the qualifications, as exams will optional cohorts starting this september. mike sewell, director admissions the cambridge colleges : ` in the light the recent a-level reforms in considering available so meeting admitting. ' oxford university already uses subject-specific aptitude tests. most its admission tests organised the admissions testing service. the disclosure has met concern school leaders, institutions with fewer resources may properly equip pupils the tests. when deryn blackwell diagnosed, his parents thought things n't. but two into his cancer battle, doctors discovered the brave boy developed another deadly form - and suffer both conditions. the 13-year-old 's mother callie, 32 : ` my son fighting two cancers -. and langerhans cell sarcoma. ` he is truly just one in seven billion all. ' it has the family from watton, norfolk. the youngster was first diagnosed july 2010 after his glands swelled lost. then three months into his treatment, suffered he was. given just a 20 per cent chance recovery the operation because he. so few white blood cells and his platelets so low. thankfully, surgery a success by may 2011 he he returned school that september his started hope out. by august 2012, deryn faced just one more year treatment, when started complaining eddie playfair, principal newham sixth form college london said : ` there 's a danger students in smaller sixth forms do n't might lose. ` it could one more barrier in. ' he seen by a specialist decided remove them straight. ` the ent surgeon told deryn 's tonsils very large, very hard. almost rock-like and extremely difficult the remove. he was. so shocked the condition his tonsils immediately sent. away for analysis, ' mrs blackwell wrote on her blog. tests revealed deryn not had leukaemia, he now also a type langerhans cell. sarcoma. the cancer is so rare there thought just four other sufferers worldwide. sarcomas are a deadly group cancers which strike, including fat, the world 's top oncology consultants now got together decide treatment deryn as they bid tackle a health case which unique unprecedented. as, deryn will head bristol royal hospital children for while preparing, callie and her husband simon, 33 praised their son 's incredible bravery inner strength faces months away our brave boy : simon and callie are taking deryn bristol royal hospital children for. deryn will totally isolated most as stripped his immune system surgeons blast as much radiotherapy his young body take. ` we prepared stay at least three months bristol with deryn, ' mrs blackwell also has a younger son, dylan eight. ` but that if straightforward nothing ever straightforward with deryn. ` the sarcoma cancer is so they even treated but decided this. ` it called an r3 protocol, involves 12 days conditioning, total body radiotherapy targeted radiotherapy his throat - which where they found originally. ' deryn is set have his crucial bone marrow transplant on march and then put total isolation. all being well, the teenager will then transferred addenbrookes hospital, cambridge for at least a further month of intensive treatment recovery care the pupil will then need have all his childhood jabs again as confronts to. courage : deryn blackwell enjoys a special day out the marines. deryn with his mother callie. he is top school wants. his father said : ` he does n't because just in hospital having intensive chemotherapy only been home. ` he will have go into that routine again but so positive at wants it, to fixed school. ` deryn is so bright - he 's top in everything wants. ' friends rallied to pay travel costs allow deryn 's parents time. the family 's foundation, doeverything has now raised #. mr and mrs blackwell hope register it when deryn well again to help other children cancer relapses. mr blackwell said : ` deryn is 100 per certain come through this very tough time. ` but whatever happens he have blood tests there other risks such infertility. ` but the way deryn deals his own mortality incredible helps everyone deal, too. ` he believes once this year has the rest we totally behind. '
analysis , ' mrs blackwell wrote on her blog . tests revealed deryn not only had leukaemia , he had now also developed a type of cancer called langerhans cell . sarcoma . the cancer is so rare that there are thought to be just four other sufferers worldwide . sarcomas are a deadly group of cancers which strike the connective tissues , including fat , muscle , cartilage and bone . the world 's top oncology consultants have now got together to decide on the best course of treatment for deryn as they bid to tackle a health case which is unique and unprecedented . as a result , deryn will head to bristol royal hospital for children for a vital life-saving bone marrow transplant . while preparing for the make-or-break journey , callie and her husband simon , 33 , praised their son 's incredible bravery and inner strength as he faces months away from home . our brave boy : simon and callie are taking deryn to bristol royal hospital for children for a vital life-saving bone marrow transplant . deryn will be totally isolated from the outside world for most of the time as he is stripped of his immune system and surgeons blast him with as much radiotherapy as his young body can take . ` we are prepared to stay at least three months in bristol with deryn , ' said mrs blackwell , who also has a younger son , dylan , eight . ` but that is if it is straightforward and nothing is ever straightforward with deryn . ` the sarcoma cancer is so rare that they have never even treated it before but they have decided this is the best course of treatment . ` it is called an r3 protocol , which involves 12 days of conditioning , total body radiotherapy and targeted radiotherapy to his throat - which is where they found the tumours originally . ' deryn is set to have his crucial bone marrow transplant on march 1 and he will then be put in total isolation for between three and seven months . all being well , the teenager will then be transferred to addenbrookes hospital , cambridge , for at least a further month of intensive treatment and recovery care . the pupil will then need to have all his childhood jabs again as he confronts his biggest challenge to date . courage : deryn blackwell enjoys a special day out with the marines . deryn with his mother callie . he is top of his class at school and wants to be a doctor . his father said : ` he does n't want to go because he has just been in hospital for three months having intensive chemotherapy and only been home for two weeks . ` he will have to go back into that routine again but he is so positive at the same time and wants to get it over with , to get fixed and get back to school . ` deryn is so bright - he 's top of the class in everything he does and he wants to be a doctor . ' friends and family have rallied around to help pay for travel costs and allow deryn 's parents to take time off work to care for him . the family 's foundation , doeverything , has now raised more than # 7,000 . mr and mrs blackwell hope to register it as a charity when deryn is well again to help other children who have cancer relapses . mr blackwell said : ` deryn is 100 per cent certain that he will come through this very tough time . ` but whatever happens he will have to have blood tests for the rest of his life and there are other risks such as cataracts and infertility . ` but the way deryn deals with his own mortality is incredible and it helps everyone else deal with it , too . ` he believes that once this year is over he has the rest of his life to do what he wants and we are all totally behind him . '
 The text is about Deryn Blackwell, who has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Langerhans cell sarcoma. She has undergone treatment and is now in remission. The article highlights her bravery and positivity throughout her journey, as well as the support she received from her family and friends. It also mentions that she will be taking part in a charity event to raise awareness and funds for cancer research.