After doing a Degree in English and American Literature, James has undertaken six teaching qualifications including an MA in Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice. He is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Over a 25-year teaching career, James has taught in the UK, Vietnam, Turkey and Slovakia. He has taught at all levels from primary school children to post-graduate students. In his previous job he led on foundation and undergraduate programmes to do with Academic Skills, Professional Skills and business.

His areas of interest include widening participation for students into Higher Education and embedding Academic Skills within subject specific content. In his free time, he enjoys cooking and snoozing on the sofa.