‘Look at what an FE college can offer you... in many ways they are our unsung heroes of education system’
“I went to Orangefield Boys High School which is now sadly gone,” he says.
“I got careers advice at 16 which was basically join the Army, go to the shipyard or join the YTP scheme. I wanted to go to university so I left and went to Castlereagh Further Education (FE) College, which is now Belfast Met, and I got two Bs and an A in politics, sociology and history A-levels. I went about it all by a different road and the biggest supporters I had were my parents. I felt and still feel angry about being written off at 16.
“I found the whole further education network really good. There were no limits to the way they would encourage you to achieve your best.”
Glyn then took a year out to work for Help the Aged. He says the conventional route straight to university didn’t suit him and would encourage others to think about their path also.
“I took a year out to go to work, which was really great,” he says. “And then I started a politics degree at Ulster University at Jordanstown.
“I took the year out because I got advice that there were too many graduates that ended up with no work experience. I felt that I wanted to take a year out and work, and I think that perhaps gave me an extra edge that people who didn’t do a year out didn’t have.
“University isn’t for everyone. I think A-levels aren’t for everyone. One of the roles I had was chair of Colleges NI, which represents six of the FE colleges. They are doing some fantastic work on A-level equivalent level-three apprenticeships which lead on to loads of other opportunities. A-levels aren’t the only show in town and I think that, while I’m not devaluing A-levels, we need to have other options there for the benefit of our economy.”
He has this advice for those getting their results today.
“My advice to anyone getting results is to look at what your FE colleges are offering. If your A-level results aren’t as good as you thought, there are other options. There are foundation degrees, there are other courses that you can do. There are always options.
“In many respects our six FE colleges are our unsung heroes in our economy and education system.
“Because they are taking people who might not have done well in our education system, finding what they are good at, shaping their potential and moving them forward. And that was my own experience all those years ago at the FE. It’s all about realising your potential.”