It's been niggling at me for sixty years!

​GCSE success is worth the wait for Michael!

Many BAES learners inspire us with their determination to achieve against the odds, but not many have had as long a wait as Michael to achieve their dreams.

Michael Clements has had a fairtytale ending to 60 years of hurt, achieving GCSE success with BAES - in the same building where he failed his English GCEs in 1958!

It was an emotional return for Michael to Sparkhill Adult Education Centre, the site of the former Sparkhill Commercial School, which existed from the 1930s to the 1960s - and his determination was so strong that he travelled up to Sparkbrook from his Evesham home each week.

Not only did Michael pass this time - 60 years to the month that he took his exams last time - but he achieved a very creditable Grade 6.

Michael was inspired by his wife's study of German with Brasshouse Languages; leafing through the course brochure, he was amazed to see the Sparkbrook building, and it triggered his decision to give it another go. With English and Maths Functional Skills and GCSE courses free to everyone, it was another great incentive to study with BAES.

"Being on the course really opened up my horizons - I would recommend the experience to anyone."

Michael thoroughly enjoyed his time on the course: "It was a real thrill to come back to the site of my former school, it triggered so many memories. But equally, it was fascinating to see how much the area has changed and it was wonderful to be on a course with such a diverse and interesting group of students from different culture and backgrounds. Being on the course really opened up my horizons - I would recommend the experience to anyone."

Michael also observed how he found the GCSE tougher than 60 years ago, with much more emphasis on imaginative and creative thought, rather than rote learning of technical grammar points.

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