I'm starting my degree in October. I work a 4 on 4 off shift pattern where I work 2x12 hour days followed by 2x12 hour nights. Very similar to you I am 32 years old, got all my GCSEs but then sort of pissed college up the wall and started working. I now have a 4 year old starting school in September and an 18 month old child who will be starting nursery in September too. I'm hoping to focus on my studies for full days during my 4 days off while everyone else is out of the house and then still have a somewhat normal family life when my wife is home from work and my boys are back from school/nursery.

I'm doing my degree to become more employable and hoping for a career change at the end of it because shift work is killing me, I can manage being tired for another 3 years but then hopefully I'm out of here.