Students across the UK are collecting their GCSE results today, a key day in the academic calendar. From Emmy-winning actors to Champions League-winning sports stars, many famous faces have experienced the nerve-wracking results day before their careers took off.
After months of revision and exams, grades can determine whether a student progresses to A-levels, further education, or apprenticeships, and may impact future university applications and career options. However, they are not the be-all and end-all of what one can achieve in life.
Wayne Rooney's Path Without GCSEs
Wayne Rooney's football ability was recognised from a young age. He was only 16 when the former Everton striker announced himself with a stunning winner against Arsenal in 2002. The footballer has admitted he concentrated on playing football over school and left education without any GCSEs. However, as Mirror Online reported, he told BBC Sport this does not mean he is uneducated.
He told BBC Sport: "It's no secret that I didn't even take GCSEs but I think people assume because of that that I'm not educated, which is really wrong. I made a conscious effort when I was at Everton and Manchester United to educate myself in a lot of different things, such as black history and religion."
"The reason I did that was because I wanted to hold conversations with my team-mates who are from different backgrounds. That was something I did to help me with my team-mates and help understand how they have been brought up. That's probably something people don't understand about me."
Steven Gerrard's Grades and Jodie Comer's Drama Exam
Steven Gerrard's football talents were also obvious from a young age. The Cardinal Heenan pupil left school with one C, six Ds and two Es in his GCSE exams. After this, the Liverpool FC icon took on a summer of work experience at Melwood, and went on to become one of the club's most important ever players.
Jodie Comer, star of the hit TV show Killing Eve, attended St Julie's Catholic High School in Woolton. She originally wanted a career in music but was thrown out of a girl band after she missed rehearsals, she revealed in an article on Mirror Online. She went on to win a competition at the Liverpool Drama Festival and later auditioned for a part in a Radio 4 drama.
The actress now receives plaudits for her acting but admits to failing her drama exam at school. She said: "This is really embarrassing. For my drama GCSE I got an A* in my practical and I got a U [ungraded] in my written! I would have liked to have been more disciplined, maybe. I'm disciplined now but in a different way."
Trent Alexander-Arnold's Early Exams
Trent Alexander-Arnold departed his home city last year as he made the move to Real Madrid. The former Liverpool FC player's talents were recognised from a young age and he had to juggle his education with his burgeoning football career. In an interview with The Guardian in 2023, he spoke about how he took GCSE science and maths exams early, so he could be available for training as he edged closer to his professional debut.
On taking a maths exam in Bulgaria during an under 17s tournament, he told the outlet: "Obviously, I don't think I've done less revision for anything in my life. Surely that can't be normal. Sacrifices like that shouldn't be happening. A pass was considered good enough. I was brought up to aim for Bs, minimum, for the other lads it was just getting passes so they could drop their subjects and free up time. Then in Year 11, the big year of secondary school, it all got chopped."
Alexander-Arnold only had one full day in school in Year 11, but still managed to pass eight subjects, including two Bs and six Cs.
