Hundreds of scholars in England, Wales and Northern Eire will obtain their examination outcomes on Thursday. It may be a demanding time, but it surely's by no means too late to return to schooling no matter your outcomes, a college lecturer tells BBC Information.
Anna Champnis admits she had “no grand plan” when she left college at 16 with no GCSEs.
After years of struggling by way of the “regimental” classroom setting and lacking a number of deadlines, she stop earlier than sitting for any exams.
However fast-forward 20 years and Anna now holds a PhD and teaches greater than 100 college college students.
“If I may speak to younger Anna, I might promise, 'Don't fear,'” she says.
Anna was within the minority when she studied later, however in recent times the variety of older college students attending universities throughout the UK has elevated.
In accordance with the newest figures from the Greater Training Statistics Company (HESA), the variety of college students aged 25 to 29 will probably be 14% in 2022/23, up from 11% 4 years in the past.
There’s a related improve for college kids aged 30 and over – from 20% in 2018/19 to 23% in 2022/23.
Anna says her work as course chief in wildlife conservation at Nottingham Trent College has supplied some “great” experiences.
He goes on subject journeys to see deer rutting in autumn and watches seals on the Lincolnshire coast with teams of scholars.
However for 45-year-old Anna, if you wish to return to schooling, following the mantra “there are not any guidelines” isn't a simple path.
“I hated college all my years and couldn't wait to get away from schooling, however now I've spent half my life in schooling,” he says.
“It's actually ridiculous, but it surely's not the educational that I don't like, it's the construction of the varsity.
“I beloved studying. I nonetheless do.”
After leaving college at 16 with no {qualifications}, Anna says she spent the subsequent two years working every kind of jobs to “earn slightly cash”.
He labored as a library assistant, a waiter at a roadside cafe and a pub cleaner.
“I used to be very joyful to get out of college,” she says.
Anna discovered she was pregnant when she turned 18. After turning into a mom, she says, she started to consider find out how to return to schooling with out returning to the standard classroom setting.
On the age of 20, Anna handed her GCSE exams in English and Maths.
He then enrolled in an Entry to Greater Training course and “actually loved” the schooling that faculty supplied in comparison with college.
This ignited a spark in Anna, and he or she began a bachelor's diploma in wildlife conservation on the similar time her daughter began major college.
He says the sensation he felt within the labs and lecture halls at college was a world away from the “authoritarian” nature of college.
“It's about doing what you like, and if it's one thing you take pleasure in, you'll do effectively.”
Anna's schooling didn’t cease there.
He spent the subsequent 5 years finding out for a PhD, lastly graduating in 2012, leaving the varsity virtually 20 years later with no {qualifications}.
Subsequently, he grew to become a senior lecturer and lately gained the Vice-Chancellor's College Excellence Award.
Anna's uncommon path in schooling meant she may go on recommendation to her daughter when she was finding out for her GCSEs 10 years in the past.
“I don't know what I wish to do [after school] One,” says the 26-year-old star, talking together with her mum from the household residence in Leicestershire.
“However you [Anna] I mentioned I didn't want to fret about it – after which I didn't go to school.
“That's good, as a result of college isn't for everybody,” says Anna.
She nonetheless remembers the “disappointment” she felt at leaving college with none {qualifications}, however says there's no want to fret, regardless of the final result, as college students get their outcomes this summer season.
“It's not the top of the world in the event you don't do effectively at what you like.”
Anna is aware of first-hand what it's wish to have some nice college students who begin studying once more a lot later in life.
“There are not any guidelines that say it’s a must to do every part in these conventional educational years,” he says.
“I had a scholar in my research who was 65 years previous and had accomplished his diploma.
“It's actually by no means too late.”
Grownup studying: Methods to get again into schooling
Anybody who has not handed GCSE grade 4 or above in maths or English can retake exams without spending a dime.
You possibly can research from entry degree to degree two for GCSEs, useful expertise and different related {qualifications}.
Contact your native authority or additional schooling faculty for extra info.
For different topics, it is determined by the place you reside.
In some elements of the nation, older learners can sit GCSEs without spending a dime in the event that they earn lower than £25,000 or are unemployed.
Nonetheless, in the event you dwell in an space ruled by a Mayoral Mixed Authority (MCA), equivalent to London or Better Manchester, funding choices range.
The identical monetary restrictions apply to A-levels.
Go to your native MCA web site for extra info.
Most college programs require candidates to have sure {qualifications}, equivalent to GCSE maths and English, however entry necessities range for every topic.
Contact particular person universities or go to the Ucas web site to search out out extra.