© 2004 J Arnold

We asked via our readership on Facebook for any stories of HE where the children are now no longer children and have moved on ... Did they have qualifications? How did they get on with out them if not? What are they doing now? Do they ever regret not going to school now they are older and wiser?

The replies so far as you can tell by reading are from very proud parents, inspiration to all of us especially those starting out with worries and questions.

Please feel free to submit your own story to admin@thenuk.com so we may continue to show it how it is.  We have not heard any negative stories so far but am willing to list any of those too if you have them.

Inspirational

My lad is 19 and has spent a year on a travel and tourism course and volunteering on all kinds of interesting projects (canal boat centre, historic paper mill, heritage railway, sailing for the disabled and a local theatre/music venue) and then started a customer services NVQ. He got more involved in other aspects of the place he was working at and switched to horticulture. He hadn't done GCSEs but had a portfolio of things that he had done. I don't think he has any regrets about not going to school but his girlfriend - who did go- certainly wishes she had been home educated. Christine W

I have older HE kids - girls are 2019 and 18 next week and 16. Older 3 are at college and one is finishing in June after 3 years. They have diplomas but no GCSE’s and got in on their merit. One is now doing a GCSE to do an access course for university youngest 16 year old is going in September to train as a vet nurse. No qualifications except two animal care and health diplomas she got when she was 11 and 13 and they wanted GCSe's but took her based on her animal experience.. Ruth G

I have a 17 year old at college going onto her 2nd year in September.  She done enough GCSE’s just to get on her first college course and has worked her way up and got 8 merits and 1 distinction this year which allows her to go onto the main course she wanted to do for the next 2 yrs. My daughter did regret leaving school at one time but once she embarked on her GCHE’s to get her college course she was very happy.Xx Vanessa H

I have a 15 year old son and exams are a problem - anything with a time limit causes him to go totally blank. He is doing a Bronze Art award as he loves photography and wants to be a wildlife photographer. Sylvia H

My older daughter's in her final year at University.  I have to point out that it wasn't linear. My older daughter went to college but didn't enjoy it and didn't do very well as she didn't like it. After a while being unemployed she found a job she enjoyed looking after young adults with profound physical and mental disabilities. She did that for a while and then decided to see if she could get in to Uni. Which she did without GCSE's or A levels just a GNVQ intermediate Art and Design work experience and a good portfolio of her art work. Elaine GH

Helen my eldest is 17. Got into college on merits just finishing a level 2 BTech and an additional 3 GCSE's. They would have moved him to level 3 within the first semester but unfortunately the strand he wanted to do was full so he'll continue on to that in September and possibly some extra A levels as well. Maria D

No regrets no qualifications thriving family business - a smooth and natural follow-on from autonomous education. Gill K

My younger son is 22 and has just finished his degree in Theology for Education. He's starting a PGCE (oh the irony!) in primary education in September. He never did any GCSEs or A-levels and it wasn't a problem. Sue F