No confidence to do GCSEs

[Itsmeeee888]

I really want to get some sort of career so I’m not just earning minimum wage for the rest of my life . I just don’t know where to start . Basically I have NO GCSEs at all . I left South Africa at 15 blagged my way into college to do fashion design and then some how managed to get a good degree in textiles . I used the degree to some level to get a job making jewellery ( sounds more exciting than it was tbh ) anyway fast forward 10 years and I now have 3 kids including a toddler and I’m a single parent working minimum wage in a bar . It’s been fine until now . My son will be three next year and I really want to look towards building a career or future where I’m not living hand to mouth . I just don’t know where to start . I left at the end of the age of 15 ( we don’t finish school until 18 in SA ) and I was really terrible in school , used to bunk off etc as I was a typical teenager but not only that I’ve realised I must have ADHD as found it so hard to retain info and be organised, my life is completely chaotic and my mother always jokingly said I had it but makes total sense now ! My son is 14 and has started his GCSE’s , I have absolutely zero idea what he’s talking about . How can I possibly do GCSEs if I don’t even know the basics pre-GCSE’s ? Sorry it’s a ramble . But basically I would like to retrain as an art teacher or something but EVERYthing wants GCSEs 😭not only that I struggle HIGHLY with anything academic but I’m very good with talking the talk and people /social skills . My confidence is also low in terms of learning as I can’t write academically so puts me off even writing a cv . I think I’m having a crisis over this all .

Probably missing your point a bit but it sounds like you would be very good at jewellery sales as many buyers would find hearing about making it really interesting. A big company would offer further training, hopefully

What about functional skills OP? A grade 2 is equal to a GCSE pass and so they start at levels below that and are more practical and related to every day life. You can often do the courses for free as an adult if you don't have GCSE's. Might be worth looking into.

Thank you . I have not heard about these before . I’ll have a look into it . ☺️

If you’re thinking about teaching you do need GCSEs to keep your options open. If you’ve done a degree you should be perfectly capable.

start with maths: educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2023/11/get-number-confident-and-unlock-your-potential/

If I had my time again I'd work my way up a corporate ladder. I was all humanitarian and worked for charities and local government.

There's more money in working your way up a company ladder than any GCSEs. Yes, GCSEs give you opportunities but for work they're pretty irrelevant.

What do you want to do? Teaching won't get you a decent income. It will get you a mid income and you'll be overworked and constantly slagged off by the media.

If it's money and security you want then find out what you like doing and work your way up somewhere to management?

Before your child is 3 you have a bit of time to get Universal Credit without having to work. So I would find an entry level position. You've no need to work in a bar. That must be exhausting, but what about working your way up to management in said bar?

You're already in work so there's no need to be thinking backwards to basic education. I think you should switch your mindset towards progression.

Further Education colleges run gcse courses, maths and english should be free if you have nit got equivalent. Others you may need to self fund. You might be able to do a vocational level 2 like Applied Science, Hairdressing or Childcare alongside which would help you career-wise. The issue wound be that most college courses start in September with exams and assessments in June. Functional Skills may be available year round, and possibly community based, if you check who the adult learning provider funded by the Local Authority/Council is.

I would be surprised if you have to take actual GCSEs rather than some adult equivalent - particularly as you already have a degree.

I don’t have an answer but if you browse the

Mature Study and Retraining board

(which would be a better place for your own thread!) you may find more pointers on the best way to proceed.

The National Caeers Service, which is free, would be a good place to start. A trained adviser will be able to guide you on qualifications, career options, and funding. https://jobhelp.campaign.gov.uk/government-services/national-careers-service/

You probably only need maths and English language as you have a degree.
As previous poster said look at functional skills (especially for English).

Thank you ! I already did management in a bar and pay was rubbish plus the hours etc 🥴 I absolutely love the job though ! Maybe it’s the company ? I don’t know .

Thank you everyone for your kind input and advice. I really appreciate it ☺️

If you have management experience how come you've not got a job as a team leader or manager somewhere else?

This is about working smart, not hard.

What kind of salary do you want?

Find jobs with that salary.

Upskill to meet the essential criteria. You have a year. You 'could' take time off now to focus on this if you could survive on just the 1K you would get from UC (aside from your rent)

Plus, remember the older your experience is in a role, the more you did there wink wink