A new mother has taught teenagers a lesson in coping with exam stress – by sitting a GCSE just four days after giving birth for the first time.

Adult learner Nicki Sherwood even had to sit her exams in a special room of her own, in case she needed to take a break to breastfeed baby Isabelle.

The 30-year-old pharmacist, from Kingston Close, Shoreham, discovered she was pregnant just days before she was due to start the GCSE psychology evening classes at Portslade Community College in September.

Mrs Sherwood said: "I realised then I would be due around exam time but I really wanted to do the course because I work in mental health and it was something which really interested me.

"I spoke to my tutors and decided to go ahead with it but on the basis I might not take the exams if it became too much.

"Of course, as the course went on I got more determined to finish it."

She quickly became one of the star pupils on the course at the college in Chalky Road, Portslade, and tutor Julia Owen predicted an A* grade.

Mrs Owen said: "We were worried at one stage she would go into labour in the exam hall and we were trying to work out how we'd deal with it."

Mrs Sherwood eventually gave birth four days before the first of her two exams.

She had no problems during her pregnancy and was delighted to have a short five hour labour, giving birth to 6lb 15oz Isabelle on Thursday, June 11.

Mrs Sherwood said: "I only managed to get back to revision on the Sunday night, I was very tired, I was having sleepless nights and obviously I wanted to spend as much time as possible with Isabelle.

"When I took the exam on the Monday it was the first time I had been away from her and I missed her a lot, it was horrible. My husband Jeremy took her for a walk but I was taking the exam in a separate room from everyone else in case he needed to bring her back for me to breastfeed her.

"I think the exam went quite well but it was quite difficult to concentrate, I'm not sure how well I will have done.

"At the end of the day I was so pleased to be sitting the exam at all that whatever I get I will be chuffed."

After she finds out her results, along with thousands of others across Sussex, on August 27 Mrs Sherwood plans to take a break from studying.

She said: "I'd love to do another course but I think I'll have plenty to keep me busy already."

Mrs Owen said: "We're very proud of her. She's worked very hard and never missed her homework, so she deserves to do well."