To be clueless on such an essential subject

[Littlemuster]

My DM and DF did not attend secondary school. DM has been on benefits her entire life. DF worked very hard for many years in a labour heavy night time job, fell ill and has been on benefits ever since.
My older sibling dropped out of school around 14, had a brief job and claimed benefits ever since.
My DM took me out of school at 12 years old although I wanted to attend. She told the LA authority she was home educating me although really she bought some textbooks and gave them to me to read.
I've tried really hard to teach myself enough to fit in socially and actually think I would have done incredibly well in education.
I'm now early 30's - was pregnant with my eldest at 15 - have been on benefits for 15 years but really want a different life. Desperate for it.
Where do I even start? No education, no experience.

See if you can get yourself into Education, can you volunteer anywhere to get some experience?

Do you know what you want to do?

Have you looked at the Open University? Or there are colleges that take adults.

It is never too late. I just completed my degree at 44. Research online as to what you need to do and then get it done. Where do you live?

You must know what you want to do? Once you know that it can be fairly simple to figure out, plenty of people refrain, that’s no problem. Well done though.

Could you go back to college, discuss what courses you could do? Do you want to learn a trade or get qualification? Many people study at older ages note so you would not be alone I'm sure.

Do you have any qualifications so far?
If not, Maths and English would be good subjects to start with, as these are required for many jobs and also for entry into further education courses. There are qualifications at entry level, Level 1, Level 2 (GCSE) and so on.

www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/learners

I think it's amazing you have the drive to want to get into education now, well done you

The college nearest to me does nightschool access courses where any adults who haven't gotten GCSEs or equivalent can study them for free. Also lots of nightschool courses for free or 90% reduced rate which could be really good for you in things like IT and accountancy.

Open University is fantastic - I'm literally applying right now to start my masters there. SIL has done it and loved the experience.

MOOCs are online courses that are free and some of them actually result in a qualification. Sometimes you have to pay for that part. I did a free course in nutrition and health and the qualification cost £30 at the end.

Assuming finances for evening classes are an issue I would suggest you try and tutor yourself through some GCSEs. You can enter yourself for exams if you can find a local centre ( school or college.) You should be able to get the textbooks on eBay or similar and there are teachers on here who can advise you on exam boards etc.

do you have a career in mind? what are you interested in?

Perhaps look at what's on offer at your local adult education college.

Sorry to hear you were let down so badly. Good luck.

I’m sorry you’re education was taken away from you, that’s rotten. But it’s never too late; my grandmother took GCSEs in her 60s! Have a look at your local adult education courses. You won’t be the only one who has missed out or wants additional qualifications.

And bloody well done you for wanting to learn and achieve :)

You’re, not your.

Argh, your and not you’re. I blame my elderly and ailing iPad.

Search online for local colleges. You should be able to take your GCSEs at one and then work your way through from there.

If you're on benefits and don't have any qualifications then you should be able to access Level 2 English and Maths for free at your local college. If you see an advisor / work coach at the job centre then they should be able to point you in the right direction. If not, just Google your nearest vocational college and go from there. Good luck

I can’t give anymore advice than what you’ve had, just wanted to say how much I admire you though. That drive will take you anywhere you want. What do you want to do with your life OP?

It’s never too late!! A massive pat on the back to you for knowing you want more. As a secondary school teacher in a deprived part of London I see lots of parents who have come back to education at a similar time to their kids because of similar stories to yours. Lots of parents sitting their GCSEs along with their kids.

You can enrol at an adult college to sit some GCSEs and go from there to eventually do a degree. Do it! Good luck!

Get in touch with your local adult education organisation and ask about 'access' courses. I did one, one day a week, I got the equivalent of GCSE maths and A level English and Biology. Got accepted to do a nursing degree on that and my care experience!

Look online at Kahn Academy. Its online maths courses and aimed at the US kids, but it will give you somewhere simple to start. You watch a 10 min video where they explain the concepts, then you do some practice questions and quizzes. It might be useful to see what you know, what you dont and what you pick up easily

I have no idea what I want to do, realistically speaking.
My dream has been to be an obstetrician but that is out of reach.
I have self taught photography and have had many people comment that my work looks high end professional but without actual experience and qualifications, I'm not sure that can go anywhere other than a hobby.
This is bigger than me. I want to earn a decent wage to help DC's with uni etc to stop this cycle completely. They don't know I didn't go to secondary school as I don't want to normalise it. If asked what I do, they say I'm a photographer.
I spend any spare time involved with their activities ie. I stepped up to being a daunting stage manager type role on a massive theatre production for DD - in exchange for a bursary worth four figures, where she socialises with a mixture of working class and middle class kids, in hope to normalise a life I couldn't have.
So, partly I don't know what I want to do as I want to do anything with decent prospects and am prepared to work ruddy hard!
I think I will go the route of textbooks for GCSE's and put myself in for the exams.
I'm in a city in the UK, so if anyone has any career suggestions, I'd appreciate them!

I agree with the positive messages above. Go for it. MIL left school at 14, but took three GCSEs and got good pass grades when she had young grandchildren. It’s never too late.

I think you would be eligible for free or reduced fees as you are on benefits. Pop into your local library to pick up info about courses offered at night school. Perhaps just start with Maths and English. Certainly it would be better to study alongside others for confidence and support. From this you will be able to find out about other paths to study.

My bf left school with few qualifications but started with a few GCSEs at night school, then an access course, then onto uni to do a degree. She had three children at the time, the youngest being only three, and had recently separated from her useless husband. She really enjoyed it and went on to a job with the local council as a Housing Officer.

You write very well for someone with no education.

I left school without any GCSEs. I got so fed up with my dead end jobs and then was on benefits for several years after I had DS.

When DS was 7, I decided I wasn't as stupid as I always presumed I was and that I was desperate to do have a meaningful job that I would enjoy and be a good example to DS. I did a one year access course and then went on to do a degree course. It did take me about a year to find the right job but it was all worth it. I love my job. And I've just been offered a promotion. DS wants to follow the same career path as me now!

I never thought I could achieve all that, I really didn't. I wasn't sure what kind of job I actually wanted so I just found a degree course that I was interested in and knew I would enjoy. Go for it!

I think many courses will be free to you if you are in receipt of certain benefits. I hated school and dicked around at university. I finally finished my degree and then completed my masters in my thirties and it ignited such a passion in me that I have been taking courses constantly for the past decade. Well done for taking the first step, good luck!

Talk to your local further education college.

If you have no level 2 qualifications (GCSE), English and maths courses are free.

That would be the best place to start. once you have the English and Maths qualifications, you can choose from a range of further subjects and qualifications but many will expect you to have the english and maths before they take you. You'll also have some experience studying at that point so be better placed to decide what route you want to go down.

The BBC bitesize is a good place to start practicing the basics of maths and English grammar online.

Now is a good time to make a change - the new college year starts in September so call your nearest further education college up now and ask about courses. In a few months, you'll be a student and taking steps to change your life.

Example course is something like this - gives you the basic English, maths and science to move on to a wider range of gsces or btecs.

www.hackney.ac.uk/courses/course/300438/pathway-to-btec-and-or-gcses-with-science-english-and-maths/?search_id=15

Thank you mimibunz, however I'm sure I make lots of mistakes in grammar. I do tend to question most commas, apostrophes etc and think studying English at GCSE level would go a long way to helping my confidence too!