A London man who was expelled from school at 15 years old and fell into a life of drug and alcohol addiction has been named as the winner of a coveted prize for exceptional adult learners.
David Maguire (36) is the London winner of the ‘Adult Learners Week Open College Network (OCN) 25th Anniversary Award 2007’. To mark the 25th anniversary of the OCN – and the 20th anniversary of the National Open College Network – the unique anniversary award is being made in nine regions of the UK to ‘an outstanding and inspiring learner’.
The panel of five judges unanimously agreed that David was an ideal candidate to receive the award for this region after using learning to completely change the direction his life was taking.
David went to school in the north of England at a time when learning difficulties were not recognised and the fact that he suffers from dyslexic and dyspraxia was not picked until years later. When he was thrown out of school for negative behaviour, David turned to life of drug and alcohol dependency until he was given hope by an assessment that changed the course of his life.
“A health worker identified that I had a learning difficulty,” said David. “I underwent tests that showed that I was severely dyslexic and dyspraxic. This confirmed what I had always believed; that I was intelligent and with the right support and tools I could find a way to express it. With this came the confidence to start my journey into higher education.”
David started an Access to Higher Education course in 1999 at Goldsmith’s College and is now studying part time for a degree in Criminology and Sociology at the University of Westminster.
Michelle Gammo-Felton from the AchieveAbility project nominated David for the award and said: “David is on target for a first class degree and is already thinking about a Masters programme. He works part time for the AchieveAbility project as a mentor and has become one of our most inspirational student ambassadors. David has a very bright future ahead of him and is only now realising his true potential.”
Karan Green, Chief Executive of the National Open College Network, said that David was an inspiration to adult learners everywhere. “Over the last 25 years, the Open College Network has helped transform the lives of tens of thousands of people across the UK whose skills might otherwise not have been recognised.
“Like them, David understood that learning could lead the way to a better life and has had the focus and determination to seize the opportunities available to him.”
Rachel Thomson, Senior Campaigns Officer at NIACE, who organise the annual Adult Learners Week celebration, said, “Every single one of this year’s Adult Learners’ Week Award winners has shown remarkable dedication, enthusiasm and energy. Learning transforms lives, but that transformation cannot happen without the commitment, creativity and vigour that adults – of every age and stage – carry throughout their learning journeys. The winners have discovered new-found talent and confidence and are eager to learn more. They will continue to enhance their own lives and those of their families, friends and communities.”
