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James Humphries

Public services and outdoor education lecturer James Humphries served in the Royal Marines for ten years before being medically discharged in 2018. 

With a love for outdoor pursuits, James qualified as an instructor in mountaineering, rock climbing and mountain biking, which led him to a job at the College within the public services department. James lectures on both the armed forces and community public services pathways and also leads on the outdoor education programme, utilising the skills and experience he has drawn from a ten-year military career.

After working at the College for a few months, James was offered the chance to gain a qualification in further education and studied for a Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training. James studied one evening a week alongside his full-time lecturing role and he completed the course this year. 

James said: “This course has allowed me to progress up the lecturer framework and I have been able to implement aspects of the training into my lessons. I am now more skilled as a lecturer as a result of this course, which has also encouraged me to become a more reflective practitioner. 

“The lecturer, Chris, is really supportive and he makes it very straightforward to manage the workload. Chris is able to draw out your own innovation and creativity and offers helpful guidance as to how you can incorporate this into your teaching. 

“As long as you don’t let the coursework build up, it is really manageable alongside full-time employment. I’ve really enjoyed being able to continue my own education and I’m now considering completing a qualification in assessing.

“Anyone thinking about going into further education teaching, or those already working as a lecturer in the sector, would find benefit in this course, as will your students.”

The City & Guilds Diploma in Education and Training at City College Plymouth is an in-service route to a qualified teacher or assessor role in further education colleges, work-based learning, or community, public sector and private training.