A BUSINESSMAN worth £135 million has issued a heartfelt message to A-level students stating that exam results “aren’t the only thing that define you”.

Sir Rod Aldridge, who grew up in Portslade, left school with “only a handful of exams” but went on to found the consultancy company Capita in 1984.

He said that while the world has changed a lot since he was a young lad, the education system still has catching up to do.

Sir Rod said: “It’s frustrating to see that the education system still focuses purely on academic performance as a measure of success or failure.

“Less attention is given by the system to whether a young person has developed the important life and enterprising skills, critical to having a fulfilling and successful career.”

He is chairman of the Aldridge Foundation, an educational charity which sponsors academy schools including PACA in Portslade and BACA in Brighton.

The Argus:

While Sir Rod admitted that getting good grades can provide great opportunities, he added that many young people will excel regardless of their exam results.

He continued: “I left school with only a handful of exams, and could have felt like I’d failed to get the necessary qualifications to be successful in life.”

Since leaving Capita in 2006, Sir Rod went on to found his own charity to help disadvantaged communities develop enterprise skills and an entrepreneurial mindset.

The Aldridge Foundation offers workshops, expeditions and holds competitions to encourage young people to challenge themselves and develop new skills.

 

The charity has sponsored 11 different academies and colleges across England - ranging from the North West, London, to the South East - including the school he attended when he was 11 years old, Portslade Aldridge Community Academy.

Sir Rod imparted his wisdom for A-level students on a blog post sharing advice he’s learned during his career.He said: “It’s not where you come from that matters, it’s where you want to get to that counts.

“Whatever your circumstances, it’s important to remember that anything is possible in life with determination, hard work and resilience. Dream big and aim high.

 

He also said that you should be prepared for a “wiggly career” – saying it is okay to try out lots of different things.

Sir Rod started his career as a post boy aged 16, before working as an accountant for 20 years. He did not found Capita until he was 36.

He added: “Find out what you’re passionate about and what your skills and strengths are and be open to where they might take you.

“When it comes to success, there are no deadlines, so celebrate all your achievements, no matter how small and don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s.”

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