Case Studies

I had four small children and wanted to both support my children’s learning as well as improve my employability, so I started a Family Learning Course in 2005. Later in 2008 I signed up for the Children’s Care and Development Level 2 course with OCSW, which gave me the confidence to be a volunteer at a school, become a school Governor and complete more training.

I then became the Parent Support Advisor/Family Worker at the school and continued to train, including Level 3 qualifications to help me become the Chair for Whitleigh Big Local. I was offered a Family Learning Tutor post at OCSW, then began working to support mums and babies at Trevi.

OCSW approached me in May 2021 to return as a Learning Advisor, and I now enjoy teaching courses such as Crafts and wellbeing, Cooking, Floristry, Foraging, Budgeting and Eco courses.

I would recommend OCSW to everyone, as we are a nurturing service, making sure we support our learners to fully reach their goal and visions. OCSW gave me the confidence to want to learn more, train more and work for them.

I previously worked for Plymouth City Council and heard about On Course South West through working there. At the time I was interested in applying for a Social Work Masters but needed a Maths GCSE. It was hard going, and I nearly gave up, but the support of the tutor and my fellow students got me through.

Once I completed my Maths GCSE, I gained confidence and decided instead of going down the social work route I would complete my Level 2 and Level 3 Counselling with OCSW. I have now completed my Level 4, am on a placement with Plymouth University and will soon be a qualified counsellor.

I worked with Barnardo’s on a project supporting care experienced young people called Care Journeys and am now a Student Wellbeing Adviser at Plymouth University. I would definitely recommend OCSW - what have you got to lose? Some of the courses are even free 😊

I found out about On Course South West online and started functional skills English and Maths to learn something new and gain confidence. I then moved onto GCSE English. I really enjoyed the courses so went on to attend cookery lessons, budgeting, foraging and craft courses.

I have gained many skills such as how to make my own home detergents and make my own jewellery. I have also learnt to cook lovely, heathy meals.

All the tutors are friendly and make you feel welcome. They help you when you need extra support, which inspires you to achieve what you set out to do. I would highly recommend OCSW to everyone, it is the best place to learn new things and meet new people.

I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, feeling trapped in previous jobs, but I knew that I wanted to help people. I had been recommended On Course South West (OCSW) to help me gain the qualifications needed to become a teaching assistant.

I started my Level 2 Teaching Assistant Qualification while still working and taking care of my son, who has special needs. The course was flexible and I was provided with support that enabled me to study around my son's needs. Even though it was challenging, I completed the course in just a few months.

Lisa's support was second to none, and helped me gain confidence I needed. She encouraged me to apply for job opportunities, and thanks to the skills and knowledge I gained, I have now secured a job as a teaching assistant. I'm able to provide support for those with special needs, and it feels incredibly rewarding. I’d recommend OCSW to anyone!

When you have been away from the classroom for 50 years the idea of returning can be daunting especially if your last experience at high school was being a victim of continuous bullying.

Stepping through the doors at Hyde Park House was a revelation, everyone from the advisors to the tutors put me at ease, their expertise in helping a diverse range of students of mixed abilities was evident from the very beginning.

I enrolled in both the functional English and Mathematics courses. What I liked best was the relaxed classroom environment, when you return as an adult learner it is because you want to not because you have to. It's not the same as a school classroom with the peer pressure of everyone in the same age group. These classes are of course about learning, but for me they were so much more after my wife passed away. A reason to get out and about, a willingness to engage and talk with the classes, a feeling of confidence and wellbeing with my spirits or mood lifted when handing in work no matter how it was marked.

Thanks to the tutors Jill and Phil I passed both functional courses at Level 2 and the learning bug had well and truly bitten, I opted for English Language GCSE and have never looked back; it was a full-on course especially during lockdown and learning to use google classroom to work remotely. Due to hard work and with the assistance of Phil the tutor I was able to gain a GCSE English Language grade 6 pass with a merit in the spoken element.

I often look back at some of my GCSE course work especially some of the higher marked pieces to see how far I think I've come now when writing my short stories. I have now started a full time Access to Higher Education course in September at City College, none of this would have been possible without taking the first steps through the door of Hyde Park House.

Jeremy started his learning journey by enrolling in a Digital Skills First Steps course through SMARTSKILLS. With minimal digital knowledge, he was eager to gain skills. Despite having a smartphone, he had never used it for anything other than calls and texts. Jeremy had undergone hip surgery, which made him unable to work as a bricklayer and he wanted to use his extensive building experience as a project manager in the construction industry. For this, he needed to be confident in using Microsoft 365 and other relevant office applications.

Jeremy was determined to improve, and he even looked into getting broadband at home to help him with his digital skills. After completing Digital First Steps he enrolled onto Digital Improvers, Essential Digital Skills course and had already signed up for the next Digital Skills for Work L2 course starting in late February/March. While he still had a way to go before being confident as a digital manager, he had come a long way.

Having been a bricklayer for over 20 years, Jeremy had never explored the digital world and conducted most of his business over the phone or with pen and paper. However, due to wear and tear from working on the tools, he realized he needed to acquire digital skills to remain employed in the construction industry and was able to achieve this.

In 2005, I decided to sign up for the ECDL at my local Adult Education Centre. This spurred me on to return to full time education and in September 2006 I enrolled on one of the Access to Higher Education courses . I gained a Level 2 Adult Numeracy qualification. I realised there was no stopping me, and I applied to University of Plymouth to study for a BSc (Hons) in Health & Social Care.

In 2010, I achieved my degree. and in 2011, I qualified as a teacher. When I started this journey, I was 34 years old, with a young family, my youngest was only 2. Juggling family life with full time education was probably my biggest challenge but it was worth it.

Returning to education has given me so much, increasing my confidence, enabling me to develop numerous transferable skills, and improving my self-esteem. Furthermore, it has raised my own aspirations.

In 2019 I attended a taster course in Spanish. My son lives in Argentina and I wanted to learn how to speak to my grandson.

I then moved onto the full Spanish course but the pandemic began. Thankfully On Course South West moved the course online so I was able to continue. Last year I also attended the Christmas crafts workshop, which was wonderful. I have now progressed to advanced Spanish and hope to continue.

As I previously worked as an Advanced Teacher Practitioner, I am used to observing teaching and I really appreciate the efforts of the staff here. They are so welcoming, there is no pressure and lessons are well planned.

I have really enjoyed the social interaction on these courses and have even joined other learners on outings to the cinema. If you are nervous about studying on your own, the Tutors here are well trained and great at working inclusively, always accommodating and patient.

Never in a million years did I think that at the age of 40 I would be attending university, yet here I am! And it all started at On Course South West.

During Covid I found I had extra time to kill so I enrolled on a few online courses. At the same time I started doing some volunteering at a Women’s Centre. Here I learnt that the counselling profession is really under strain, with nowhere near enough counsellors and maybe a change of career was what I needed.

Having done some online courses I took a leap and decided to enrol for the evening counselling Level 2 course and let me tell you, it was one of the best things I have ever done. My Tutor Sue was amazing, not only did she draw out my insecurities about studying again, she also empowered me to be more than I ever felt possible. Whenever I was unsure or struggling she took the time to explain things in a way I understood and enforced how capable I actually was.

Having completed the Level 2 I applied for the Level 3 and again Sue encouraged me all the way. This second year was different though. I had learnt so much about myself in the previous year that I too believed anything was possible and now two years on I have been accepted to university to do a master’s degree in counselling.

In the 2 years with On Course South West I have changed from having no real direction and feeling incapable of achieving anything of significance, to making some real friends for life, learning more about myself than I thought possible and achieving more than I ever did at school. And although I know I put in the work and studied hard, I truly believe that without the help and guidance of Sue I wouldn’t have ever considered University as an option. She has inspired and supported me to be the best me I possibly can be and I will be forever grateful that I started my journey with On Course.

I felt like I was at a crossroads in life and searching for a new career path. I have some basic ability in art but wanted to improve so I could become confident enough to sell my art. I enrolled on to On Course South West’s acrylics beginner’s course and have since completed that course and the acrylics improvers and I am about to progress on to the acrylics mixed ability.

Our tutor Polly has been so understanding and supportive of what I wanted to get from the course and my future. Polly has listened to me and helped to give me a new outlook.

Not only has my art improved but I have met some friendly new people. I have since enrolled on to On Course South West’s Carpentry course, another avenue I hope to explore and possibly incorporate in to my business repertoire.

I first came across On Course South West on the Plymouth City Council website and thought I would give learning a try. My bereavement counsellor at the time suggested I get back in to learning as part of a phased introduction to a new path in going forward after the devastating loss of my wife of 33 years.

Since starting with On Course South West I have achieved my level 1 certificate in maths functional skills and have now commenced my level 2 course. I am a senior citizen, 75 to be exact, and I have found my learning experience with On Course South West extremely satisfying. I have enjoyed getting to grips with maths and the experience of being in a classroom environment again after so many years, something which I dreaded in my school days but now enjoy! The social aspect of learning with On Course South West has also been a very positive one. I have been able to meet new people again and brush up on my interactive skills which suffered a great deal after the loss of my wife.

I am so happy I decided to start my learning journey and would encourage others to do the same.

In 2002, Alan Stokes found himself at a crossroads. As a single father seeking both community and personal growth, he turned to OCSW with the hope of expanding his education and social network. Alan began with the Introduction to Counselling. The support and encouragement from his tutors sparked a passion that propelled him forward.

Fuelled by newfound confidence, Alan successfully continued with his Counselling certifications, paving the way to further academic pursuits and professional qualifications at college. Today, Alan is the proud director and owner of Horizon Counselling Services, a thriving local business that employs over ten staff members and offers a wide range of services including counselling, first aid, online courses, and mental health events. His collaboration with YMCA Plymouth to provide free counselling services to young people underscores his commitment to giving back to the community that once supported him.

Reflecting on his journey, Alan shares, “Taking that first step was daunting, but it led me to the incredible place I am today. I am immensely grateful for the support and encouragement I received from OCSW and their dedicated tutors. I encourage everyone to embrace the opportunity for growth, no matter how scary it may seem at the start.”

James, a dedicated adult learner from Plymouth, made the courageous decision to return to education and retake his Maths GCSE. Having left school years ago, James always had a dream of becoming a teacher, but knew that achieving this would require overcoming his past academic struggles. In pursuit of his goal, in September 2023 he enrolled in a Maths course at On Course South West Plymouth, determined to succeed.

James opted to sit for the Foundation Tier Maths GCSE, where the highest attainable grade is a 5. The course provided him with the structured learning environment he needed, along with the support of experienced tutors who understood the unique challenges faced by adult learners. Despite the pressures of juggling his job, family responsibilities, and studies, James committed himself to a rigorous revision schedule. He attended evening classes, participated in group study sessions, and utilized online resources to strengthen his understanding of key mathematical concepts.

The journey was not easy, and James often found himself grappling with topics he had long forgotten or struggled with in his youth. However, his determination never wavered. His perseverance was rewarded in June 2024 when he received his exam results: a Grade 5, the maximum score achievable on the Foundation paper. This accomplishment marked a significant milestone in James’ academic journey and provided him with the qualification needed to apply for university.

For James, this success was not just about passing an exam; it was a crucial step towards fulfilling his lifelong ambition of becoming a teacher. His story is a powerful reminder that it is never too late to pursue one's dreams and that with hard work and dedication, even the most challenging goals can be achieved. James is now looking forward to starting his university studies, where he will continue his journey towards making a positive impact as an educator.

Harriet came to On Course South West with a hope to gain a grade 4 or above in biology. This would enable her to further her learning and in turn achieve her desired career in dentistry. In the past Harriet had begun GCSE courses, both online and in person, however due to the large number of pupils the tutoring did not meet her needs.

Through learning with On Course South West Harriet was able to get the tutoring she required. There were smaller classroom sizes which meant there was more one to one conversations with her tutor. Every learner also received tailored learning which enabled her to feel more engaged in lessons. Her biology tutor was very supportive throughout the course and even held additional support classes in the run up to exams. Harriet was successful in her aims and through hard work and dedication she achieved her biology grade needed. This means Harriet is now eligible for entry onto the Dental Hygiene Therapy Degree at Plymouth University. The course also helped to prepare her for University by giving her a good foundation of knowledge needed in biology.

We are thrilled Harriet is able to carry on her learning journey and wish her all the best for University.