An enthusiastic adult learner from Tywardreath who worked hard to obtain the qualifications he needed to fulfil his dream of becoming a paramedic is one of 14 learners whose achievements were celebrated at Cornwall Council’s annual Learners’ Awards evening. 

Ashley Burke successfully passed Access to Higher Education, GCSE Maths and GCSE English courses in eight months and will now take up a place as a student paramedic at the University of the West of England. 

Ashley was nominated for an Adult Learners Award by his tutor Sam Hocking who said he had been a true inspiration to his peers and to all of the tutors and staff that had the pleasure of meeting him. 

The awards evening, which was hosted by Cornwall’s Adult Education service at County Hall, saw 14 learners aged from 16 to over 70 presented with special certificates to mark their achievements. 

More than 5,000 people took part in adult education classes across Cornwall last year, including basic and GCSE English and Maths, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Health and Care, Business and Administration, Customer Service, Access to Higher Education (the route to university and careers for those who have not taken A Levels) and Family Learning (parents learning about and supporting their children learning in schools). 

Head of Adult Education Rob Sweetzer-Sturt said: ’These people have been recognised either because their achievements have gone beyond the norm that is expected, or because they needed to overcome an unusual level of obstacles and challenges, or a mixture of both these things.#

www.cornwall.gov.uk/adultlearning  has details of courses.