The head chef at a top Ipswich hotel and a mother and daughter duo have collected their GCSEs to enable them to progress further in careers.

Luke Bailey, 47, has been a chef for 30 years, and is currently the head chef at the Salthouse Harbour Hotel on the waterfront.

He went back to Suffolk New College to gain his maths GCSE to enable him to become a teacher.

He said: "Everything clicked into place – but I had to pass my maths GCSE in order to study a teacher training programme.

MOREGCSE Results Day 2024: Suffolk School results as it happens

Luke Bailey, head chef at the Salthouse Harbour Hotel, gained his maths GCSELuke Bailey, head chef at the Salthouse Harbour Hotel, gained his maths GCSE (Image: Suffolk New College)

"I started in September and today I got the result I needed - a grade 5 in maths.

"On seeing the result, I felt a mixture of happiness, pride and relief."

MOREIpswich 73-year-old great grandfather gains English GCSE

Along with Mr Bailey, Emma Parker-Barber, 46 from Ipswich, passed English after gaining a grade 5 on the same day her daughter, Faith, 17, also passed her English GCSE with a grade 4.

Emma said: "I did this as my son has autism and ADHD and my dream is to work in the SEN school (where he studies) and this has helped enabled me to do that."

Daughter and mother, Faith and Emma Parker-Barber, both passed English GCSE on the same dayDaughter and mother, Faith and Emma Parker-Barber, both passed English GCSE on the same day (Image: Suffolk New College)