Famous school flops Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via Email The school leaving age is about to be raised to 18. But does dropping out of school early lead to a life of manual work and penury? It didn't for this lot … Mon 1 Dec 2008 19.06 EST Blunt judge Simon Cowell left school before the sixth form. He took a few menial jobs, but did not get along well with co-workers and bosses, until his father, an EMI executive, managed to get him a job in the mail room Photograph: Eamonn McCabe/Guardian Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Though he was a poor student, Richard Branson stuck it out at Stowe school until he was 15 Photograph: David Levene/freelancer Share on Facebook Share on Twitter The legend that is Ozzy Osbourne reportedly suffered from dyslexia. He left school at 15, then found work as a construction site labourer, trainee plumber, apprentice toolmaker, car-factory worker and slaughterhouse assistant Photograph: Don Arnold/Getty Share on Facebook Share on Twitter A teacher told Julie Burchill's parents that if she went to work in the local biscuit factory - as many of her classmates would - it would be like putting a pheasant in a fish tank. At 17, she landed a job on the NME Photograph: Peter Dench/Corbis Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Health secretary - and former education secretary - Alan Johnson left Sloane grammar school in Chelsea at 15. He stacked shelves at Tesco before becoming a postman at 18 Photograph: David Levene/freelancer Share on Facebook Share on Twitter John Major, pilloried during his time as prime minister for being boring, left school at 16 with three O-levels: history, English language and English literature. Clearly not enough to enliven his conversation Photograph: Graeme Robertson/freelancer Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Model, equestrian, racing driver and not very good dancer Jodie Kidd left boarding school with a GCSE in art Photograph: Sang Tan/AP Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Entrepreneur and TV tough guy Alan Sugar, estimated fortune £830m, was born in Hackney, the son of a tailor. He left school at 16 and was soon selling car aerials and electrical goods out of a van Photograph: Sarah Lee/freelancer Share on Facebook Share on Twitter DJ Chris Evans ran an alternative tuckshop at school before leaving at 16. Early jobs included private detective and Tarzanogram Photograph: PA Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Ringo Starr, not even the best drummer in the Beatles, was a sickly child. After his last extended visit to hospital, beginning at age 13, he did not return to school Photograph: Damian Dovarganes/AP Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pop diva Joss Stone, who at 22 has sold more than 10m albums worldwide and won two Brits and a Grammy, left school at 16 with three GCSEs. "It wasn't that I was stupid. I'm just a little bit dyslexic, and I wasn't very academic. I'm more artistic," she says Photograph: DWL Publicity/PR Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Director and divorcé Guy Ritchie was expelled at 15. He says it was drug use. His father, however, has said it was for ‘cutting lessons and entertaining a girl in his room’ Photograph: C.J. LaFrance/Getty Images Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Sir Maurice Joseph Micklewhite Jr, aka Michael Caine, left school at 16 after gaining four O-levels and did his national service, serving in Germany and in combat in the Korean war. Not a lot of … oh all right they do Photograph: David Levene/freelancer Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Who needs school when you’re bending it like Beckham? David left at 16 and played his first pro game for Manchester United when he was 18 Photograph: Rob Loud/Getty Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Topics Secondary schools 14 - 19 education Schools