‘I’m amazed’ – 73-year-old great-grandfather of two gains GCSE in English after leaving school at 14

Posted on August 23, 2024 by Suffolk New College

A pensioner in his seventies who left school at 14, returned to college to study a GCSE in English and ended up with a grade 6. Danny Davey, 73, from Ipswich – who took the GCSE thanks to the support of Suffolk New College – said: “I never wrote until I started here in September last year. It’s 59 years since I went to school. The father of four children, grandad of ten and great grandad of two – who was a roofer before writing – continued: “Growing up, I went to about 15 different schools, left school at 14, got a holiday job and never went back (to school). I’ve always wanted to learn and improve myself – you should never stop learning – personal development is everyone’s responsibility.”

Danny Davey Pictured With His Wife Cheryll At Suffolk New College
Danny Davey Pictured With His Wife Cheryll At Suffolk New College

So why go back to college?

Mr Davey said: “I came here to Suffolk New College to learn the rules of writing. On seeing my GCSE result, I generally felt emotional. I’m amazed. “My message to others (in terms of going back into education during retirement) is that everyone needs a purpose – and there is nothing better than going back to learning. “If I could give my 14-year-old self some advice it would be go back to school.” Mr Davey also won a writing competition organised by the college earlier this year. In 2016 he got a C grade in maths that was also studied at Suffolk New College.

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Who wrote this about Ipswich?

Suffolk New College

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