James Cook first joined City College Plymouth in 2006 to study the Access to HE Humanities course. Like many adult students, he came with a plan which was to pursue teaching. What he didn’t expect was that his path would take an unexpected turn into IT, eventually bringing him back to the College in a leadership role.
“I’d mapped out this route into education, but I sort of fell into IT along the way,” James explained. “Now I’m back at City College as Head of Digital and IT, and it feels like the right place to give something back.”
For James, the Access course was more than just a qualification, it was a turning point. “It was honestly the best year of my life professionally and academically,” he said. “The lecturers were incredibly supportive. They helped bring out a confidence in me I didn’t know I had.”
That confidence pushed him to explore new directions. After completing his course, James went on to study teaching at university and took on roles in IT support, where he discovered a new passion of helping others.
“There’s a real education element in IT support. You’re not just fixing things, you’re showing people how to do something, guiding them through it. I realised I loved that part just as much.”
Despite not originally seeing himself as a manager, a team leader role gave James the opportunity to grow. “Once someone trusted me with that responsibility, things kind of spiralled from there. That was the moment I saw myself differently.”
Returning to City College in a professional capacity felt like a natural next step. “This job honestly felt like a dream,” he said. “It’s a role that allows me to give back in the same way someone once gave to me.”
Now on the staff side, James says he recognises the same drive and commitment in his colleagues that he saw in his lecturers. “We’re not here for accolades. Everyone is focused on making students’ lives better. That’s what drives us.”
His message to others thinking about starting or restarting their education?
“Sometimes your path isn’t what you expected, and that’s okay. The important thing is taking that first step. You don’t know where it might lead, but if you’re open to it, it could lead you right back to where you started, only stronger.”
