Current employer: Devon County Council
Current job title: Commissioning Support Assistant
“My studies at Plymouth were incredibly rewarding. I really appreciated the support and encouragement I was given by my tutors. The University also supported my wider academic development, providing opportunities to participate in projects and attend conferences.”
Tell us about your career path since graduation.
After graduating from Plymouth I completed a master’s degree in Education and Children’s Literature at the University of Cambridge. I then secured an internship at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, working in their education department. Since returning to the UK I have worked in social care and the heritage sector before starting my job with Devon County Council. My role is to assist with writing Education Health Care Plans for young people with special needs to ensure they receive appropriate support in their education.
Has your career path changed since graduation?
My initial goal was to complete a PhD, but unfortunately I simply couldn’t afford it. Funding for the social sciences is severely limited. But I am happy where I am, my role is varied and rewarding, and I can always return to studying in the future.
What, if anything, would you do differently if you could?
Studying at Plymouth was such a rewarding experience, and although I was lured away by the reputation of Cambridge, in all honesty, I think I would have got a lot more out of my master’s degree if I had stayed where I was. I’d built up fantastic working relationships with my tutors and I thrived on the dialogue we developed.
What advice would you give to anyone wanting to get in to the same line of work?
Work experience is key. Having experience working in schools and social care has been invaluable to securing my job, giving me an insight into how the policies and plans we develop impact children on an individual level. What’s great is that it’s quite easy to fit care and support jobs around studying as it often involves working shifts.
How did studying at Plymouth help you?
My degree gave me a critical understanding of education policy and theory. Understanding the theory and the history of education policy helps put my work into context. Having the opportunity to write a variety of assessments and receiving detailed feedback helped me to develop a precise and accurate writing style that helps me to write and edit robust Education Health Care Plans.
Would you recommend undertaking a course with the University, and why?
Absolutely, my studies at Plymouth were incredibly rewarding. I really appreciated the support and encouragement I was given by my tutors. The University also supported my wider academic development, providing opportunities to participate in projects and attend conferences and lectures outside of my course. Plymouth nurtured my passion for inclusive education and gave me the skills I needed to secure a job in the field.
