Helen missed most of Year 8 as a result of a bone tumour for which she had chemotherapy, radiotherapy and an amputation. She says the year would have been much harder without the support, kindness and interest of Mrs Keeping. As well as working hard on the national curriculum, they made paper and pizzas together, researched subjects on the Internet from woodlice to Kenya and went out for lunc. “She even brought her tortoise to my house so I could draw him,” writes Helen. They undertook a project researching wheelchair access in secondary schools which had a direct result for Helen. She started in Year 9 at the Bishop’s high school, Chester, this term.

Please send the name of your Friday Hero..... - and why he or she should get a bouquet - to Sarah Bayliss, Friday magazine, TES, Admiral House, 66-68 East Smithfield, London E1W 1BX, or e-mail sarah.bayliss@tes.co.uk. Flowers kindly supplied by Marks and Spencer