text: A school has allowed a pupil who suffers badly with nerves to take her pet Labrador into a GCSE exam to help keep her calm. Rebecca Rice, 16, had tried everything to calm her nerves but knew the only thing that made her feel comfortable was her 11-year-old dog Holly. After confiding in her teacher Lorette Esteve it was decided she could take Holly into the five-minute recorded French oral test. Rebecca Rice, 16, (right) told her French teacher Lorette Esteve (left) that she had struggled with her nerves ahead of her French GCSE oral exam. Ms Esteve advised her to bring her pet dog Holly (middle) to help . Ms Esteve, who is joint head of foreign modern languages at the school, said: 'Over the years, both pupils and teachers have worked hard to reduce the stress involved in the whole experience and tactics include bringing in drinks, lucky key rings and having a friend in the room. 'When Rebecca came to do her speaking exam, though, nothing seemed to work. 'She'd spent hours at home learning what to say, but when faced with the idea of having to sit through the exam she knew that she couldn't do it and I talked through with Rebecca what made her feel comfortable. 'So Rebecca's mum delivered 11-year-old Labrador Holly to school, and Rebecca spent her five minutes with Holly who sat reassuringly at her side - and it worked.' The teenager said: 'Having Holly with me really settled my nerves.' Ms Esteve said staff at Bodmin College in Cornwall have worked with pupils to help combat stress during the busy exam period, including bringing along drinks, a lucky key ring or a friend to sit in the room .
target: Rebecca Rice, 16, was allowed to take her pet dog into five-minute exam .
  She told her teacher she struggles to control her nerves ahead of the GCSE .
  Teacher Lorette Esteve advised she bring along 11-year-old dog Holly .
  School has various tactics help reduce stress including lucky key rings .