Anyone know how to go about taking a GCSE as an adult?

[ALittleCrisp]

I really want to be a Midwife, but I cannot get onto a Midwifery course unless I have GCSE Maths, English and ideally (most unis want the three subjects), Science at Grade C or above.

Does anyone know how I can do this as an adult? Google is giving me all sorts of unclear answers so a point in the right direction would be fabulous

In addition to this, does anyone have any idea of the cost?

Thank you

No idea on costs, but for GCSE try your local college or adult education service if your local authority have one. Good luck!

An access course at a local college?

For maths you just need to contact your nearest college. I work in a college and they have evening classes for people like yourself. Only catch is they can only be taken in June and you won’t have time now to learn everything in time so will have to wait until September to enrol. Some universities accept level 2 functional skills. This is easier than a GCSE and can be taken at any time of the year so you could get onto your midwife degree this September. Worth asking your uni if they take it.
Not sure about science. Not many places will do that for mature learners.

Get in touch with your local college. The GCSEs are free if you don't already have them - as is the Access to HE course you can do for midwifery at the same time. AFAIK all level 3 (and GCSE) subjects are free for adult learners.
I did mine back in 2011, I haven't progressed any but it's a great diploma to have. Good luck!

Also, it won’t be a c or above, it will be a 4 (or maybe a 5 by the time you get there) in the New grades.

I'm currently taking my GCSE science ( for the 3rd time!) as I want to be a midwife.
I also done an access to health professions course.

I found the science one the hardest gcse's to find as most colleges don't do it.

Rings around your local colleges and ask them - they have open days normally around June / July.
They'll then book you for a quick skills test - then offer you a place.

My science gcse cost £300 and I started in September and sit my exams in May & June.

A few of the girls in my class are doing english, maths and science together on different days at the college I'm at.

Get in touch with your local college. The GCSEs are free if you don't already have them - as is the Access to HE course you can do for midwifery at the same time

I would love to do the two together but the Access to HE course isn't free, is it? I hope you are right and I'm wrong

My local website says the Access to HE course is £1,511 for 19-23 year olds and £3,384 for 24+ year olds

You may be entitled to a grant or a discount depending on circumstances

You need to speak to a local adult education department for advice

There’s a website for ‘national accredited’ exams so you can tell if the are just a certificate (anyone can give you one of these) or an accredited qualification.

So do online courses bit you have to arrange to sit the exam in college along with all the other students on the timetabled day

What a shame I'm really gutted! The next GCSE courses start in September. The one that just went started in January this month!

I’ve just applied to a college to do my National 5 maths (Scottish GCSE equivalent) via distance learning. It’s about £300 but there is funding help here, that may be the case in England too?

@ALittleCrisp when I did mine it was free and I was 30 - I think it maybe dependant on income perhaps?

You could maybe do some self-teaching for maths maybe using key Stage 3 then GCSE books (e.g. CGP) between now and September. That could put you at a better starting point. (Or even end Primary level to brush up on basics).

Maths and English should be free to those not having passed previously

I teach GCSE English in FE, including an adult night class.

English and maths are free, start in September and exams are in June. All of our local universities require GCSEs, not Functional Skills (I teach that too).

OP, this might be useful in helping to find a course near you:
www.gov.uk/improve-english-maths-it-skills

It took my husband a few years to find a course he could get on. The local college had vacancies, assessed him and they thought he could do the Eng Lang exam. He worked really hard and got a 6. I was ever so proud of him. He did not have to pay.

Our local Adult Education centre does GCSE science as well as Maths and English. I think English and Maths might be free but not certain.
If you have to pay for 3 GCSEs it might be better to do an Access course as you earn to work at Uni level.
If you are going to do GCSEs the CGP books mentioned above are excellent. My boys used them at school , did the 3 separate sciences and got all A or A* . I think they do revision guides and work books.

I'm met by further disappointment The English GCSE starting in September is fine for me to go on, but the Maths GCSE required a previous grade of D, or a Level 2 in function skills

If you have to pay for 3 GCSEs it might be better to do an Access course as you earn to work at Uni level

The access course I'll be going on isn't any good to me without GCSE Maths, Science and English. You can't get on a Midwifery course without those unfortunately, in addition to the access course

You can study at evening classes or via the internet, if you are working one per year is probably realistic. Talk to the university about the access course requirements as you need a levels too normally but a foundation year means they accept less. There's some funding if you are out of work, ask at the job centre. An alternative is a nurse apprenticeship and switch, not sure of the requirements.

Hi the HE courses are normally free if you don't have a level 3 qualifications you need to do human biology, maths and English to get into uni you also need top grades

Speak to the college about the maths. They may be able to test you and see if you would be at the right level to start GCSE if you explain to them.
Some schools and colleges will enter you for exams as a private candidate, so you pay for entry then just turn up to the exam, no teaching. If you think your maths is ok you could ask at the college if you can do the exam this summer as a private candidate (have a look at past papers online and see what you think first) with a view to starting GCSE courses in Sept.

It's a shame because I was predicted an A in Maths, A* in English.

Sadly, childhood psychosis took over. I didn't complete them. I wish I'd had better support at the time.

Have you thought about which universities you want to apply to? It's worth checking what their entry requirements are. You'll need Maths and English at Level 2 - some accept Functional Skills L2 which you may still be able to achieve this academic year. Functional Skills/GCSE English and Maths will be free if you don't already have these.

You should then look at taking an Access course if you don't have relevant A levels or other Level 3 qualifications. This is a year long course and is the equivalent of A Levels. It'll cover the health and biology - you shouldn't need a separate science GCSE. This is only funded if you're 19-23 and don't already hold a full Level 3 qualification. If you're not, you can take an Adult Learning Loan for the fees (typically £3k ish). I'm pretty sure the loan is written off if you then go to uni and complete your course otherwise it 's only repayable once you earn more than £25k (ish - can't quite remember the actual figure).

You can then apply to uni in the autumn term of the year you start the Access course with a view to starting the following year.

It'll take you 1-2 years to get your academic qualifications up to spec if you don't already hold them.

Good luck!

Oh sorry, I thought it was strange that it was 3 GCSEs or a Access course- I misinterpreted.
I have looked at our county council Adult Education website- GCSE biology round here is free as well as Maths and English. They also seem to be running 15 week Maths courses starting regularly, which build to an exam- which could possibly be one of the functional assessments . Might be worth a chat with an Adult Education .