From GCSE English to university graduate: David's learning journey

11 August 2026 By Marketing

When David enrolled on a GCSE English course with Learn Devon in 2023, he was taking an important step towards a long-held ambition. Three years later, he has graduated from the University of Exeter with a BA (Hons) in History, achieving an impressive 2:1.

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. ‘I wasn’t a particularly good student at school, and I needed to improve my English GCSE to gain entry to the University of Exeter.’

As an adult learner, returning to the classroom wasn’t without its challenges. As David explained: ‘You always doubt and tell yourself you’re too old to learn. An ‘old dog can’t learn new tricks’ and all that, but you are never too old to learn.’

Studying GCSE English provided both valuable skills and renewed confidence. David credit Learn Devon for helping him to prepare for higher education, saying: ‘The skills I learned at GCSE with Learn Devon were extremely useful and valuable in my future studies.’

After successfully achieving his GCSE, David secured a place at Exeter University, where he studied History, a subject he has always enjoyed at school. Although university life brought new challenges, he persevered. ‘It gave me the confidence to push on and succeed and I knew I could go on and progress.’

Looking back, David believes the GCSE equipped him with essential skills in reading, writing and analysing texts that proved invaluable throughout his degree, especially when it came to academic research and writing.

His advice to anyone considering returning to education is simple: ‘Go for it! If I can do it, you can and don’t be afraid to. You’re never too old to learn new skills and improve.’

David’s journey shows how one qualification can become the first step towards great opportunities.