On GCSE results day, BBC Radio London spoke to Stephen, a career-changer who is retraining as a maths teacher. Stephen’s story is proof that it’s never too late to start again.
As a teenager, Stephen was expelled from school and never sat his exams. More than three decades later, alongside his daughter, he finally took his GCSEs and achieved a grade 6 in English. This result is not just a personal milestone, but also the next step on his journey to becoming a teacher.
Stephen shared a powerful message for young people:
“If it hasn’t gone your way, I am an example that it doesn’t define the rest of your life. You can use it as fuel, and that fuel can burn very bright.”
His story is a reminder of the power of persistence, the value of education at any age, and the impact career-changers can bring into schools.
Listen to the full interview below.
Thinking about changing career into teaching?