{"id":70986,"date":"2026-08-19T11:33:17","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T10:33:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/?p=70986"},"modified":"2026-08-19T11:55:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T10:55:44","slug":"gcse-english-university-graduate-davids-learning-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/gcse-english-university-graduate-davids-learning-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"From GCSE English to university graduate: David&#8217;s learning journey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Former Learn Devon learner David Spelman tells us how he felt when he got his GCSE English results\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/928NYGQkZcs?feature=oembed&#038;rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Thousands of GCSE students will be nervously opening their results tomorrow (Thursday 20 August), and it\u2019s an experience that adult learner David Spelman remembers vividly from three years ago.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When David, from Topsham, enrolled on a GCSE English course with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.learndevon.co.uk\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn Devon<\/a> in 2023, he was taking an important step towards his long-held ambition of gaining a university degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>He recalls picking up his results from Learn Devon in Exmouth: <\/strong>\u201cI was very nervous. I think I was probably thinking about it for quite a few weeks beforehand, especially because I was thinking I may not get into university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt&#8217;s nerve-wracking but it&#8217;s very rewarding when you find out you&#8217;ve passed and I wish everyone all the best with their GCSEs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earlier this year, David achieved his ambition, graduating from the University of Exeter with a BA (Hons) in History, achieving an impressive 2:1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before enrolling with Learn Devon, David had already begun rebuilding his confidence in education through other online courses. He knew that gaining a stronger English qualification was essential, but returning to the classroom as an adult learner wasn\u2019t without its challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He explains: \u201cI wasn\u2019t a particularly good student at school, and I needed to improve my English GCSE to gain entry to the University of Exeter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou always doubt and tell yourself you\u2019re too old to learn. An \u2018old dog can\u2019t learn new tricks\u2019 and all that, but you are never too old to learn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">David successfully attained his English GCSE English which provided him with valuable skills and renewed confidence. It also enabled him to secure a place at the University of Exeter, where he studied History, a subject he always enjoyed at school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He credits <a href=\"https:\/\/www.learndevon.co.uk\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn Devon<\/a> with helping him to prepare for higher education. His GCSE equipped him with essential skills that proved invaluable throughout his degree, especially when it came to academic research and writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He says: \u201cThe skills I learned at GCSE with Learn Devon were extremely useful and valuable in my future studies. It gave me the confidence to push on and succeed and I knew I could go on and progress.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">David has a message for everyone collecting their GCSE results. He says: \u201cI hope everyone gets the results they&#8217;re looking for and go on and do some good things with those results. People may be looking to go into further education and further study. It definitely opened the door for me and it can do exactly the same for you as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And his advice to anyone considering returning to education is simple:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGo for it! If I can do it, you can, and don\u2019t be afraid to. You\u2019re never too old to learn new skills and improve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_acf-block-6a858badbaafd\" class=\"councillor-quote align-right dcc grid-x\">\r\n\t<blockquote class=\"councillor-quote-blockquote medium-auto small-12 cell\">\r\n                    <div class=\"councillor-quote-title\"><p>Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Cabinet Member with responsibility for adult education, said: <\/p><\/div>\r\n        \t\t<div class=\"councillor-quote-text\"><p>\u201cGood luck to everyone receiving their GCSE results this week. David\u2019s journey shows how one qualification can become the first step towards great opportunities. Gaining his GCSE English through Learn Devon and then going on to get his University Degree three years later is an incredible achievement. He truly is an inspiration and perfectly highlights that ambitions can be achieved at any point in life if you persevere.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n        <div class=\"councillor-quote-aside medium-auto small-12 cell\">\r\n\t<figure class=\"councillor-quote-image grid-x\">\r\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"small-6 cell medium-12\" src=\"https:\/\/democracy.devon.gov.uk\/UserData\/3\/9\/5\/Info00011593\/bigpic.jpg\" alt=\"Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\r\n        <figcaption class=\"councillor-quote-description small-6 cell medium-12\" >\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/democracy.devon.gov.uk\/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=11593\" rel=\"noopener\">Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs and Broadband<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n            <\/figure>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    \r\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you would like to improve your skills or gain qualifications, get in touch with Learn Devon&#8217;s friendly team who can talk to you about what is available: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.learndevon.co.uk\/contact\/ \" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.learndevon.co.uk\/contact\/ <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">GCSE students of all ages are reminded that Devon&#8217;s network of Employment and Youth Hubs offer free, friendly support to anyone aged 16 and over who is exploring options for further education, training, or work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are hubs in Barnstaple, Bideford, Crediton, Exeter, Honiton, Ilfracombe, Newton Abbot, Okehampton, and Tiverton, with one in Totnes opening tomorrow (Thursday 20 August). To find your nearest hub or book an appointment please visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/economy-enterprise-skills\/skills\/employment-hubs\/\">Employment Hubs webpages<\/a> or email <a href=\"mailto:employmenthub@devon.gov.uk\">employmenthub@devon.gov.uk<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":70987,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"video","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[22,24,2176],"tags":[2243,256,2237,8,563,362],"class_list":["post-70986","post","type-post","status-publish","format-video","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-economy-and-skills","category-dcc-homepage","category-skills","tag-adult-learning","tag-business-and-economy","tag-cllr-cheryl-cottle-hunkin","tag-education","tag-gcse-results","tag-learn-devon","post_format-post-format-video"],"acf":[],"featured_image":{"ID":70987,"title":"Copy of hero image for news website - 2026-08-19T092145.304","alt":"David opening his GCSE results in 2023, and graduating at the University of Exeter this year","description":"","caption":"David opening his GCSE results at 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