Sue Radford shares fury over ‘discrimination’ of daughter as 22 Kids and Counting mum begs for help ‘System is broken!’

Tillie attended an interview and was informed she would have been given a place were it not for the medical procedure she has scheduled and the recovery period that would follow.

The reality television star took to social media on Tuesday to vent her frustration, declaring: “I’m absolutely DISGUSTED with the education system right now.”

She questioned how any institution could justify blocking a young person’s education over necessary medical treatment.

In her post, Ms Radford explained that Tillie had responded to her disappointing results by exploring alternative routes into education, exactly the approach the family encourages.

“She picked herself up, looked at her options and applied for college,” Sue wrote.

The teenager went along for her interview on Monday and was reportedly told the course would have been open to her, but the upcoming surgery and subsequent recovery time meant the place would not be offered.

“She’s not asking for time off to go on holiday. She needs an OPERATION,” Sue stated.

Sue drew a pointed contrast with the penalties imposed on families who take children out of school during term time for holidays.

Parents face fines and lectures about the harm of missed lessons, she noted, yet a college can apparently refuse a student entry because she needs medical treatment.

“So where exactly is she supposed to go from here?” she asked.

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The mother-of-22 highlighted the contradiction in a system that constantly stresses the importance of young people remaining in education or training, only to shut out a teenager who actively wants to learn.

“How can a system that claims to put young people first possibly justify that?” she wrote, adding: “I genuinely want to know what other parents think, because right now I’m absolutely furious.”

Sue vowed to keep fighting for Tillie’s right to an education.

The post sparked a significant response online, with more than 1,200 comments flooding in.

Several supporters urged Sue to challenge the decision, with one suggesting it amounted to discrimination under the Equality Act’s protected characteristics provisions.

One penned: “Can’t they accept her but defer her place until next year? Then she can concentrate on getting better from her op and knows that there’s no stress as there’s already a place…”

“Straight to court!!!! This is discrimination of protected characteristics under the Equality Act – the college has breached legislation,” a second fumed.

“That shouldn’t be allowed having an operation is out of her control how ridiculous of them!!!!!” another agreed.

Someone else added: “Disgusted for you! If she had an accident during the school year they would do everything possible to support her to continue her education. But because it’s preplanned they just say no? It’s wrong on so many levels!!”

“I’m so sorry they’re being this unfair to Tillie. Absolutely awful!” one more shared.

Not everyone sided entirely with Sue, however. Some suggested the institution might have been considering Tillie’s welfare, arguing that starting a course only to fall behind during recovery could set her up to fail. One commenter advised letting her have the operation, recuperate fully, and reapply when she was ready.

One argued: “I think the college are thinking of your daughter’s best interests and so should you. Why would you set her up for a fall? Let her do any resits she needs to do.

“Have her op and recuperate. Then apply for college next year when she’s fighting fit and ready to go.”

“Is it possibly because she is going to need time off and will fall too far behind and therefore setting her up for a fall? I’m in no way agreeing with it, just trying to find possible logic,” another countered.

Ms Radford made clear that her daughter genuinely wants to continue learning, yet has had “the door slammed in her face over something completely beyond her control.”