John's crossword led to masters degree

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), May 18, 2007

Byline: BARRY IBSON ,

Bsc follows ba Jennifer Scutt

MASTERS DEGREE John Pierre-Madigan

Success in OU courses

IT all began with a crossword.

Cowersley man John Pierre- Madigan, 41, missed out on education the first time round - leaving All Saints Comprehensive with just three CSEs.

But the former forklift truck driver has just graduated with a masters degree from the Open University (OU).

John's life took a decisive turn in 1998 when he spotted a Mensa crossword in the paper.

He said: "On a whim I tried it. I finished the puzzle and sent it off to Mensa who got in touch.

After giving me a supervised test they found I had an IQ of 141 - in the top 3% in the country.

"It had occurred to me that I was quite intelligent, but because of my experience of school - being told I wasn't to expect too much - I hadn't thought of going back to education."

It was a life-changing moment for John, who was working as a fork-lift truck driver at Batley's Cash and Carry at the time.

He began a degree in health and social sciences at the OU soon after finishing the crossword.

By the time he graduated in 2003, John was already working as a probation officer.

A further degree in community justice followed a year later and now John has added an MA in Social Policy and Computing.

John, who works in Halifax, believes other people could benefit from the OU.

He said: "For someone who like me struggled academically as a child, I would say that the OU is a great way to test the waters.

"Take your past experience of education with a pinch of salt."

John plans to continue at the OU by starting an MA in Education in February.

He added: "Once I've finished that I will seriously consider a doctorate."

He also works as a part-time OU lecturer, teaching youth justice at Sheffield Hallam University.

Jennifer Scutt, 58, of Elland, has also benefited from the OU after struggling at school. She has just graduated with a BSc, four years after getting a BA.

She said: "When I was at junior school I used to finish 23rd in a class of 24. I left secondary school with just four CSEs."

Jennifer, who works as a part-time book-keeper, got into adult learning when her daughter Teresa started school more than 20 years ago.

She said: "Just because you don't show prowess when you're younger doesn't mean you can't develop later in life and the OU helps you do that."

Jennifer attended her graduation at the Harrogate International Centre on May 5.

She said: "It was amazing to be there with 400 other graduates."

Fellow Elland woman Eileen Cunningham has also graduated from the OU with a BSc.

The 47-year-old said: "During the years it has taken me to get this degree, I came to the conclusion that I wished I had stayed in school to further my education. It's been hard work, but it's been worth it."

Stephen Hooley, of Holmfirth, and Rebecca Sutcliffe, of Huddersfield, have both graduated with BSc degrees.