“We left school with no qualifications to have babies and we have decided we need to do something better than nappies and housework.”

Helen Bloomer, 39, is blunt about her and her sisters’ reasons for getting into education. There were a lot of nappies to escape: between them, Helen, Sam, 41, and Eve, 35, have 18 children and five grandchildren. At first Helen in particular was against the idea of getting back into learning after so many years. But she was won over by her sisters and a sense of family responsibility, and now reels off the qualifications the family has done together.

“We have level 1 and 2 literacy, classroom assistant level 1 and are now working on a teaching assistant NVQ level 2 and level 1 and 2 adult numeracy,” she says. “Hopefully this will help us to get jobs in schools.” You could say that they already work in a school – they do a huge amount of volunteering for Calson Community Primary School, organising after-school activities.

The family’s achievements are remarkable because of their commitment and the number of them involved – Sam’s daughter Natalie Hunt, 25, is also a keen learner. Working together as a family is what has made them succeed as learners. “Learning together has been enjoyable because we have supported each other,” says Helen. “We have managed to stay to the end of all our courses. Our children and family are very proud of us and what we have achieved.”

The Bloomer Family were nominated by Karan Dart of Dudley Adult and Community Learning Team.  They received the 2008 National Family Learners of the Year Award.  

PRESS RELEASE