Adult GCSE students from South Devon College celebrating as they take next step in their career journey

Adult GCSE students from South Devon College are celebrating today as they collect their results with an overall pass rate of 98% for students over the age of 19. Notably, high numbers of students achieved strong grades in some key subject areas with a pass rate of 4 and above of 73% for English, 80% for biology and 100% for sociology. For many it’s the first step in the next chapter of their career journey. 

Each year GCSEs continue to open up new and exciting opportunities for adults returning to education with aspirations to progress into higher education or onto an access to higher education course.

Rebecca Goodall, 19, from Paignton is celebrating today as she passed her GCSE maths (grade 4) on the fourth attempt.

“I’ve faced challenges and this year I decided to surround myself with maths. I went to evening and daytime sessions and dedicated myself to it,” she said.

Rebecca, who says the teachers at South Devon College have been incredible, plans to go on to an access course and then in two years progress on to study law at university.

“I feel much closer to my end goal now.”

Charlotte Osborne, from Paignton, has also overcome many barriers but is closer to her dream of becoming a secondary school teacher.

The 33-year-old mother of three is celebrating passing GCSE maths, English, sociology and biology (4,5,5,6).

Charlotte failed her GCSEs the first time around and says she didn’t have a stable home environment.

“My 15-year-old self would be more surprised that I enjoyed it, not that I had done it,” she said.  “I enjoyed education as an adult as you’re choosing to do it, but I had to prioritise and put the children first and, once they were in bed, I could study.

“South Devon College was fantastic. I had a lot going on – a close family member was struggling with their mental health and I had issues with my mum, but the teachers were so supportive and I wouldn’t have got through it if they hadn’t been so amazing.

“My advice to anyone is that it’s never too late to go back to GCSEs. All you need is one person willing to support you and for me that was my partner Tom.”

There are many courses available at South Devon College across a variety of sectors including education, engineering, catering, and counselling, as well as professional courses such as accounting and bookkeeping.

"We congratulate all of our adult students for their great achievements today,” said Matt Harbour, Vice Principal at South Devon College.

“With the qualifications they have successfully achieved through hard work and determination, they can now progress onto the next important steps in their educational journey or career and everyone at South Devon College wishes them well.

“We hope these results inspire others to consider a return to education, whether you want to take the next step in your career, want to change direction, or you just want to learn a new skill or subject.” 

There are many routes back into education and under the Government’s Free Courses for Jobs there’s a selection of fully-funded Level 3 (A level equivalent) courses to adults aged over 19 who do not yet have a qualification at this level.

You can get a free level 3 qualification if you:

• are 19 or over and do not already have a Level 3 qualification;
• already have a Level 3 qualification or higher, but earn below the low wage threshold of £22,308 (the threshold of £22,308 is an annual gross salary based on the National Living Wage 2024);
• already have a Level 3 qualification or higher but are unemployed.

In some areas, there may be a slightly different low wage threshold. Check with your local training provider to find out the low wage threshold in your area.

There’s also lots of financial help available for adults earning less than £35,000 a year, including bursary entitlement for childcare, travel, kit, equipment, IT, and materials.

For more information on adult courses at South Devon College go to  Free courses for adults - South Devon College or register today for South Devon College’s Open Evening on Tuesday 8th October at 4pm. https://www.southdevon.ac.uk/event/adult-advice-open-evening