Former King James student, Prof. Philip Hodgson, currently leads the School of Law, Criminology and Social Sciences at the University of Derby. Here he explains his progression from student to Professor.

"I lived in Watling Road, Bishop Auckland and attended King James between 1976 and 1983. On completing my A-Levels I went to Newcastle Polytechnic to take a Business Studies course but in my second year I was offered a job as a police officer with the City of London Police, and rather than complete my studies decided to take the job."

"Unfortunately, due to health issues I left the Police five years later but decided to go back to University. I enjoyed working with offenders so thought I would train to be a probation officer and at the end of my degree course (during which I spent a semester in Florida), I was offered funding to study at the University of Cambridge and read for a MPhil in Criminology."

"Throughout my studies I worked in probation hostels and childrens' remand homes so as well as academic experience I was also gaining practical experience, which allowed me to relate theory to practice and get the most from both my studies and work. On completing my MPhil, I was lucky enough to get a fully funded PhD studentship and when I finally finished my studies I then got a job as a Researcher with NACRO, where I worked on a number of projects looking at drugs, young people and crime."

"After four years with NACRO I went to work as the Strategic Crime Lead for Nottingham Crime and Drugs Partnership. This was an exciting and challenging role, not least because Nottingham had a huge crime and drugs problem. We were however very successful and made massive reductions in both crime and drug use. I was also lucky enough to get funding from my employer to undertake a MBA. During this time I also began to do guest slots at Nottingham Trent University as a Lecturer and in 2006 decided to apply to NTU for a full time position. I spent six years there before moving to the University of Derby where I am now Head of School for Law and Social Sciences and also Assistant Dean of the Centre of Policing Excellence."

"It really is a fantastic job and I am privileged to lead an amazing team of around 60 academics. In December 2018, I was conferred as a Professor of Criminology; all in all not bad for someone who left King James with two Ds at A-Level!"