8 October 2026 · The Guardian
Boy with Cerebral Palsy Achieves GCSE Success
Patrick McCabe, a boy with cerebral palsy, uses eye-tracking technology to pass his GCSEs and starts A-levels, facing challenges along the way.
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Narration includes the headline and summary.
Adapted from The Guardian, 2 October 2026, and rewritten at three levels by Newslish. Newslish is not affiliated with the source. Read the original.
Grammar in this story
“He believes that students using eye-tracking technology should have more opportunities to show their knowledge.”
Reporting verb + that-clause. Read the guide
Key vocabulary
success noun
Achieving a goal.
“Winning the competition was a great success for the team.”
challenge noun
A difficult task or problem.
“Learning a new language can be a big challenge.”
assist verb
To help someone.
“Teachers assist students with their studies.”
opportunity noun
A chance to do something.
“She had the opportunity to travel abroad for her studies.”
experience noun
Knowledge or skill gained from doing something.
“His work experience helped him find a job.”
Quick quiz
01What did Patrick McCabe achieve this summer?
02What does 'success' mean in the text?
03How long did it take Patrick to complete his exams?
04What does Patrick want to study at university?
Discussion
Patrick faced challenges with friendships due to communication barriers. How do you think schools can provide better opportunities for students with disabilities? In your answer, use the words 'success' and 'challenge'.