Caretaker at Yorkshire private school passes GCSE history at the same time as its pupils

Tony Deacon, 48, had approached history teachers at the school on the last GCSE results day, and was loaned a textbook by head of history Hermione Baines.

He sat his final exam on the same day of a job interview for a new role at a nearby primary school, receiving a call just a few hours later to say he had been successful.

“I never thought I’d be able to do it,” he said. “I’ve proved myself wrong - it just shows you’re never too old to learn.”

Mr Deacon, who left BGS in June after eight years in the caretaker's role, said he had never been interested in the subject at school and that none of his GCSE passes were higher than a C grade when he sat them aged 16. As an adult, he added, he had wanted to learn and had made sure he put in the hours.

Next year he is considering studying A Level history.

“It just felt right,” he added. “I thoroughly enjoyed it. Don’t ever let anybody say you can’t do something. Everybody can achieve what they want to do.”