You’re by no means too outdated, says grandmother who handed GCSE English examination aged 74
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great-grandmother who handed her GCSE English language examination aged 74 has stated you might be by no means too outdated to be taught new issues.
Anne Blowers, of Nacton close to Ipswich, Suffolk labored within the household enterprise – a lorry park restaurant and bar – earlier than it was offered in 2016 and she or he retired in 2018.
The widow stated she determined to return to work after spending time at dwelling alone by lockdowns.
She obtained a job as a studying assist practitioner at Suffolk New College in Ipswich, and determined to refresh her {qualifications}, having sat her O-levels in 1965.
I completely beloved it as a result of I’m a artistic particular person
“There’s no record of them, but primarily teaching methods and the curriculum have changed so much that if I’m supporting in the classroom I need to have those skills,” she stated.
She has now achieved a grade eight in her English language GCSE.
“I absolutely loved it because I’m a creative person,” stated Ms Blowers, who has 5 kids, 4 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
“I do write a little bit.
“I’ve not had anything ever published but that might change, who knows?
“I loved the creativity, loved being able to express yourself and I loved getting that out to the students I support too.
“It’s great to see them be perceptive and think outside the box.”
She stated that alongside work on the lorry park restaurant, she had labored in training “on and off since I was 18” together with for 25 years as a lab technician.
“After being locked down and in the house on my own I really needed to get back to work,” stated Mrs Blowers, who was widowed in 2014.
“I have skills and I do enjoy working with young people particularly, I really do.
“When we had the lorry park I employed a lot of young people and it was great to see them blossom and move on to other things.”
She stated she had been one ultimate challenge away from attaining a grasp’s diploma in artwork and design however “life got in the way” once they opened the household enterprise and she or he “pitched in to help”.
Mrs Blowers is hoping to return to this and full a grasp’s diploma.
Asked what recommendation she would give to potential mature college students, she stated: “Go for it! The courses are really tailored to help older people as well.
“I was the oldest person in the college to get my English, but not the oldest one in the country, I understand.
“Somebody in their 80s got GCSEs this year.
“It’s never too old.
“Every day’s a school day and we’re always learning.”
She joked that one in every of her “go to phrases” in her function supporting younger college students on the school was ‘do you want to still be doing it when you’re my age?’”
Mrs Blowers additionally handed her stage two practical abilities examination, which she described as like a stage 4 GCSE move in maths, earlier this yr.