Mature students including a mum-of-six, a former cabin crew attendant and a retired children's safeguard officer are celebrating their GCSE results.
In addition to 127 students aged 16 to 18 receiving their results today, West Suffolk College saw an 82% pass rate among its adult learning GCSEs students taking biology, English and maths.
For 69-year-old Robert Taylor, from Great Cornard, the grade 5 biology GCSE was an early birthday present.
Mr Taylor said: "I’m 70 next week –it’s been so long since school and I just wanted to see if my brain was still working and retain information - and it’s still working.
“When I left school I joined the police force, where I worked for 30 years in London and Suffolk. I’ve been retired for about 15 years - and then became a children’s safeguarding consultant and I volunteer for an organisation called Home Start which is a family charity. Then Covid happened and everything stopped – it’s why I chose to do this. I wanted to get back into something.”
Also achieving a 5 in biology was Hazel Williams from Bury St Edmunds.
The 46-year-old sat the exam to fulfill her dream to become a qualified teacher.
She said: “I’m over the moon with my results, I’m really pleased. I’m now going to Cambridge to do my PGCE and Masters. I took so much more in and it’s certainly paid off. By doing this I’ve broadened my mind by coming here. I’ve learned a new subject, I’ve met new people and I’ve gained confidence back in myself.”
Also looking to pursue a career in teaching is Lindsay Edden-Laxton from Steeple-Bumpstead after a decade as a cabin crew attendant.
She said: “I am incredibly pleased with my results. I’m currently teaching as an unqualified teacher but now I have this result it means I can go and gain my qualified teaching status. I already have a degree but needed a science qualification as I want to work in primary education.
“It was nice to study with people who are a similar age and who have similar goals. I tried to do it on my own at home, through online learning which was just not the same as working as a team. It is much better to share your answers and information with others. People use different study resources which people shared - we pulled together.”
Penny Saltmarsh, 38, earned 5s in maths and biology which she took alongside an access to higher education course at University Studies at West Suffolk College.
The mum-of-six who worked in hair and beauty and retail is now applying to go to university to study midwifery.
She said: “At school I didn’t realise how useful they (GCSEs) would be in the future so I didn’t try very hard. Having chosen to come back and do them when I’m more mature, I really enjoyed it. Learning is really fun and the experience was empowering. I made lots of friends, which I struggle to do as I’m quite shy.”
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