I started learning at 19, got a PPL at 22 (money slowed me down!), and eventually gravitated to a commercial licence. I've even used it once in a while! (Actually I use it most days, but mostly for the knowledge and credibility in an aviation management job, rather than through being paid to fly as often as I' prefer.)
Flying is a wonderful occupation - for fun, for work, or for something things in between. It also develops really valuable personal skills in planning, attention to detail, multitasking, and clarity of thought and communication. Plus it is tremendous fun.
The exams are a fair bit of work, but demand more hard work than high levels of natural aptitude. If you were up to grade C GCSEs they shouldn't challenge you intellectually.
I agree with others, start with a trial lesson or two, do a PPL (or gliding equivalent, or an NPPL Microlight - the last is where I started), and see how much you enjoy it and whether you want to take it further.
There are several schools at Barton, and I've never heard anything against any of them - so go and have a look around. It's a friendly little airfield, albeit next to some quite scary airspace - but if you learn there, it'll just be part of the scenery.
G