Heywood mum, 52, beams with pride after finally smashing GCSEs

A 52-year-old mum is celebrating after finding GCSE success at Hopwood Hall College and University Centre.

Heywood-based Kyrste Thompson discovered she’d achieved a 5 in maths and a 7 English when she opened her grades on results day.

It’s almost one year on since she enrolled for the part-time courses being taught at the college’s campuses in Middleton and Rochdale.

Kryste, who works as a full-time account manager, opted to return to education so she could bulk up her CV.

She said: “I’m in my 50s and I was worried that, with the way the industry is at the minute, if I ever got made redundant then I haven’t actually got my GCSEs.”

“My son had gone to university and I had a bit of spare time. I thought to myself, ‘you know what, it’s time for me’. I’m going to do it. So I enrolled.”

Kryste praised the college’s tutors for the terrific experience she’d enjoyed and for offering her so much support on the course.

She also revealed that her son 20-year-old Jack had been her biggest supporter and regularly offered her words of encouragement when she was studying.

Jack, a student at the University of Huddersfield, would even help his mum revise.

Kryste said: “He was the first person I rang and he was absolutely thrilled for me.

“I’d just dropped him off at Leeds Festival with all his friends. I called him to tell him my results and I could hear them all screaming and shouting in the background – they were all so pleased for me!”

Kryste, who has a degree in textile studies, had been out of education for many years when she decided to return on a part-time basis.

She said she was ‘terrified’ about what to expect, but loved the experience so much that she’s already eyeing-up other courses to study at Hopwood Hall.

Kryste said: “I was so scared, but it was time for me to look after me and try to develop myself.”

“Once you start you get addicted to the learning process. You get used to learning more and you get greedy for it.”

Now that Kryste’s got her GCSEs under her belt, she’s now looking ahead to what the future might hold.

She also wants to encourage other people to take advantage of the rewards that come from returning to education.

Kyrste said: “I think when you get over a certain age that you don’t think that you can do it anymore. You think you’ve lost the learning muscle – but it’s still there.”

“My advice to others would be to just got for it. You’ve got nothing to lose. It really was just a great experience from start to finish.”

Kyrste’s tutors are thrilled with her results and hope that others will follow in her footsteps and gain new skills – no matter their age.

Russell Hodson, Centre Director for English and Maths at Hopwood Hall College and University Centre, said: “We’re really proud of Kyrste.

“Her achievements this year have been outstanding. She is a great example for other learners and of the power of adult education.”