Leeds University has offered UNISON member Ann McKelvey a place on a learning and teaching degree course - not unusual at this time of year, with many students settling into their first term at university.

However, Ann’s route from school to university has been far from usual. Her life took a turn after she enrolled on a UNISON Return to Learn Course and her next step is clear. She plans to complete her degree and take a post graduate certificate in education so that she can teach in adult higher education or night school.

Ann is the first to admit that her early years at Morley High School weren’t a great success.

Taking A levels was not even on the radar. I didn’t pass my GCSE English and when I asked if I could take it again in the sixth form I was told - you’re going to fail, get out of my classroom.”

Ann, 41, was born in Leeds and lives in Drighlington with her husband Thomas and sons Thomas and Shaun. After leaving school she went into retail work but decided to try her hand at catering college where she did well.

I got as far as the restaurant manager course and then fell pregnant. The restaurant trade is not good for family life – it’s crazy hours so I had to give it up.”

Her next step was childcare and doing voluntary work at her children’s school with some child-minding. It was work that fitted in with her family life, as did evening classes at Joseph Priestley College in Morley where Ann qualified as a teaching assistant Level 3.

Ann said:

I started working for an agency in the education sector. It was really good, you got to know different people, how systems worked in different places and it broadened your horizons. I never said no to a job. But it was hard going because the work wasn’t guaranteed. I was lucky enough to be in work all through term times – but that still left 14 weeks with no money coming in.”

Ann eventually landed a full-time job on reception at the Co-operative Academy of Leeds – an academy school with around 1200 pupils. Keen to use her qualifications, Ann applied for the post of work support assistant for English and got it - a job she has been doing for the past 18 months.

I love where I am. When I’m in class I’m quite open with students about not passing English at school and what happened to me. I tell them that if they don’t understand anything just ask – if they are not asking questions we don’t know they’ve got a problem.”

It was then that Ann received an invite from UNISON to a Return to Learn course at the Swarthmore Centre in Leeds. It was to have a major impact on her life.

I had just taken on the job in the English department which had more clerical elements to it and that drew me in. I thought this course could be interesting and handy.”

The course started in September ’16 and it quickly grabbed Ann’s attention.

Ann explained:

The way the sessions were presented was very good. Everybody was told from the word go that mutual respect was required and to recognise that everyone worked at different speeds and everyone should be given a chance to take part – it was a really nice environment.

There were 10 sessions but it took eight months to complete because we worked out the timetable by mutual agreement. With 27 on the course it was good to have so many people with different backgrounds, from different countries and different workplaces. People were at different levels but everyone had the same goal. There was no discrimination and everyone was made to feel valued.

We all helped each other and made notes for each other – we had different strengths and we would help each other. I had to prepare a report for the course and chose to do it on the Co-op Academy. I knew the Director Frank Norris from working on reception and he said come to his office in Manchester. He talked it through and he had prepared all sorts on power point – it really helped me.”

Ann had expected her results to be comparable to GCSE level but was delighted when she achieved ‘A’ level equivalent.

Ann said:

My family were over the moon – we went to the ceremony where we got our certificates. We don’t say a lot but I know the family were proud of me.”

The tutor inspired me to think about university because he was in his 40s when he went and he didn’t become a tutor till later. I started to think I could do this. I thought I would apply for an access course, but Leeds told me it’s not just about qualifications, but life experiences and accepted me on the degree course.”

Ann is passionate about the opportunities that Return To Learn brought.

Ann said:

I would recommend it to anyone - don’t get put off or feel intimidated, just grab it with both hands and give it a go because you never know until you try. Knowledge is power.”

This story originally appeared in UNISON Active! and was written by Annie Mitchell. You can check out the magazine here.