funding for gcse resits??????

madtaff

hi can anyone help me with this please

my girlfriend is looking to resit her maths and english gcses and we was wondering if she could get any grants or funding to help her with the course?

shes 20yrs old and is on an income os 130000pa

all help will be greatly appreciated

Scousebird_2

You won't find anyone who is likey to fund this other than an employer. She would have to enroll in a local college but because she is over 19, she no longer qualifies for funding, from the Gov. I wanted to do the same as I got a D in Maths (but ironically I worked for 3 major banks for 4 years so it's ridiculous). I did however get 2 A's in English so I don't know what your girlfriend got 1st time and whether it is affecting her chances of things. Judging by her age and salary, I am guessing she only wants to develop herself and isn't doing this for career progression. If she is, she needn't bother because there are very few employers that are interested.

sammyjammy

Why doesn't she just study for the exams by herself with some help from friends etc and pay to take the exams at the college,

Oldernotwiser

Scousebird wrote: »

Judging by her age and salary, I am guessing she only wants to develop herself and isn't doing this for career progression. If she is, she needn't bother because there are very few employers that are interested.

Totally disagree with this statement. There are an enormous number of jobs where having GCSEs in English and Maths is a minimum requirement and having them is often used as an initial sifting mechanism for applications. Not having them is likely to be an great hindrance to a person's career.

OP, I don't know any funding that would enable her to sit the full GCSE but she should ask at her local college about doing the City and Guilds Literacy and Numeracy qualifications. At level 2 these are equivalent to GCSE grade C or over and they are fully funded with no contribution required.

Some universities don't accept them both, but even if that is where she's heading they can provide an excellent starting point for returning to study in these areas.

shewhoguards

I think she'd qualify for the Adult Learning Grant? It's not a great deal, but it might help.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/AdultLearning/FinancialHelpForAdultLearners/Adultlearninggrant/index.htm

storminbalder

madtaff wrote: »

hi can anyone help me with this please

my girlfriend is looking to resit her maths and english gcses and we was wondering if she could get any grants or funding to help her with the course?

shes 20yrs old and is on an income os 130000pa

all help will be greatly appreciated

If I was on 130 grand a year, I wouldn't be worrying about qualifications. I'd be cruising my yacht around the Caribbean. Not a bad little wage at 20. If she's willing to give some career tips, I'm listening.

Oldernotwiser

shewhoguards wrote: »

I think she'd qualify for the Adult Learning Grant? It's not a great deal, but it might help.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/AdultLearning/FinancialHelpForAdultLearners/Adultlearninggrant/index.htm

This only applies for full time courses and depends on what qualifications you already have.

Scousebird_2

Totally disagree with this statement. There are an enormous number of jobs where having GCSEs in English and Maths is a minimum requirement and having them is often used as an initial sifting mechanism for applications. Not having them is likely to be an great hindrance to a person's career.

All I am saying is that other than jobs that require a degree as part of the entry requirements, there aren't many professions now that demand a grade C in Maths and otherwise they won't consider you, and in most roles is not always a hindrance. Just to highlight, I have worked for 3 major banks, a major retailer in a supervisory role I have had two civil service roles (yes temp roles but still the entry requirements are all the same) and I now work in the Health Service (and have done twice-since returned), so just because you didn't get a C grade in Maths does not automatically exclude you. In fact-I was accepted into the Police but failed on Medical grounds due to eyesight.

Furthermore, I have explained on numerous occasions in interviews that I can provide evidence of qualifications if required and I have had some tell me outright that I have experience and that they can see I have a standard of education so the grading is not overly important. The main point is-can I do the job spec-and I have proved competency from the questions asked in the interview. Employers have to be careful it isn't construed as Indirect Discrimation also-and having that grade c often does not mean that Joe Bloggs going for an interview after you with a C grade and you only having a D grade, that he is any better for the job-he may be academically, but in terms of suitiablity for the role-this is a different discussion to have.

There are many jobs now that do not exclude people for having less than a C grade-mainly for equal opportunities I would of thought. There is more focus on experiences and what is provided at the interview, (hence why Competency based questioning is becoming more popular with prospective employers). If you can show some level of qualification-or even simply that you have sat an exam and 'passed' it at some level-this is enough to catch an employers interest.

I have been majorly surprised to go to interviews where graduates have applied and I have thought I have had no hope of getting the job. And I have been offered it through experience and my interview technique. It's all about you as a person as well and how you come across.

I am not decrying education and saying that it means nothing-in fact I think it's marvellous that the OP's Girlfriend wants to improve her grade, but all I am saying is, it was drummed into me at school that you HAD to get a C for employers to look at you and I worried myself sick over it, thinking I wouldn't get a job when I left school-and now...well, I have done jobs that graduates apply to do. My friend worked on a till with me for a major retailer and she has a 1st class honours from Cambridge. She gave up and went back to do another degree-I just think that it's all mad!

All I can say in support of the OP is some colleges can start finance accounts (or maybe an Open Uni course).

daveboy

storminbalder wrote: »

If I was on 130 grand a year, I wouldn't be worrying about qualifications. I'd be cruising my yacht around the Caribbean. Not a bad little wage at 20. If she's willing to give some career tips, I'm listening.

The OP might also be in need of a re-sit in English.

Obviously never reads what he's put before he submits a reply.

At that age, she'll be paying for it out of her own pocket. I'd personally love to go back to learning but at 27 would have to find the money myself, which is why I haven't as it's too costly.

hanny83_2

Grade D is regarded as a pass in GCSE terms, anything less is a fail. Although most employers (if specifying qualifications) do require a pass grade of C or above in English and Maths in terms of requiring basic numeracy and literacy skills. Other competencies can in some cases make up for this.

shewhoguards

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

This only applies for full time courses and depends on what qualifications you already have.

This is going from very rough memory (my employer pays for me to attend college and last year they had posters EVERYWHERE). "Fulltime" I think, when you actually looked at it, was only about 16 (?) hours a week, and if she hasn't currently got maths/english C+ at GCSE I think she would qualify.