Marcus left school with a Grade D. To move forward with his career, he needed a pass.
He has done just that – achieving a Grade 5.
After finishing school, Marcus built a successful career as a stage manager. Back then, an English qualification wasn’t essential. But at 45, when he decided to change careers, he discovered the world had changed too. “Organisations and universities ask for qualifications, so I knew getting a GCSE was important,” he says. In September 2024, he joined an English course.
Now, after finally passing, Marcus can move on to a teaching qualification. While achieving the GCSE was the goal, he found what he’d learned on the course just as rewarding as the qualification.
“English didn’t seem important to me at 16, but it is now. I think in a different way. I’ve surprised others with what I’ve learned. I showed my partner a piece I wrote and they said, ‘Wow, did you write that?’ I’m also using more sophisticated language and feel more secure speaking with people at work.”
Marcus also built many strong connections with other learners.
“I enjoyed meeting new people; they were people I wouldn’t normally come across in my workplace. The atmosphere was really positive. One time, when someone was struggling with their creative writing, I suggested beginning with something they cared about — starting with a passion had made writing easier for me. We all helped each other. The whole time everyone was so supportive.”
Once Marcus gains a teaching qualification, he will use it to support the staff in his musical theatre business. Marcus has moved a step closer to his current goal by gaining an English GCSE; he’s also gained future flexibility, with many more career options available than before.
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