A teenager fears her dream placement at the University of East Anglia could be in jeopardy because of the way her college addressed problems caused by a teacher's illness.

Molly Cuthbert wants to become an educational psychologist so she can help children who need support, but said months of problems at City College Norwich meant she was unlikely to get the grades demanded by UEA.

The 18-year-old, from Highfield Close in Thorpe St Andrew, said problems started after enrolment in August 2012. She claims many classes were cancelled or taken by substitute teachers, essays and mock exam papers were returned late or not at all, and unsuitable work was set during lessons.

She said the college should have taken action last August, but did nothing until her parents got involved and solicitors threatened legal action.

She said: 'I'm working towards my future, so if I don't get into the course I want to get, how is that going to affect my future?

'I'm terrified I'm not going to be able to work towards everything I have wanted. It's what I have wanted to work for since I was a child.'

A spokesman for the college said: 'City College Norwich does not comment publicly on matters relating to individual members of teaching staff.

'On the rare occasions where there is significant disruption to students' learning, however caused, the college acts swiftly with a range of remedial measures to minimise the impact on students' attainment.

'These measures include (but are not limited to) the use of team teaching, putting on extra lessons to enable students to catch up on missed work, allowing students to re-sit examinations, and putting in place alternative teaching staff if required.

'If the disruption to learning could impact on students' acceptance on to further or higher education courses or into employment, the college will, as a matter of course, write to the admissions offices of colleges and universities or employers, notifying them of the situation and asking them to take this into account when deciding whether to confirm offers when results are known.

'Furthermore, the college rigorously monitors students' actual results against their predicted grades. In the event that the actual results are below what had been expected, the college is committed to pro-actively advocating on the student's behalf to ensure that they do not lose out.'