James Rennie

I took time out of the workforce and job-searching to support a family member who needed an operation. I took responsibility for their aftercare, supporting with medication timetables, personal care, and diversionary activities to increase their sense of wellbeing. I accompanied them to appointments and liaised with medical professionals on steps to continue good progress. I also went shopping and

Delivered KS3 and KS4 Geography lessons while on a short-term contract at a competitive grammar school in Ashford
Covered theoretical knowledge relating to the Net Zero transition (climate change and environmental resilience) and societal developments to high achieving groups
Used departmental templates and digital tools to make technical content accessible for non-specialist learners
Collaborated

Taught Geography to KS3 and delivered daily PSHEE sessions to tutor groups
Adapted National Curriculum lesson plans for structured delivery to large, mixed-ability classes
Developed individualised learning plans and reported progress to parents using monitoring data from LMS, CRM, and SIS software (Moodle, Google Classroom; Bromcom, SIMS)
Used interactive methods in lessons to boost student partic

Balanced the demands of part-time postgraduate learning with caring responsibilities, and job-searching, and paid employment to be awarded a Merit overall.
In a social science research module, I learned about ethnography and developed knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research in the social sciences.
Awarded a merit for most assignments, with a Distinction for an analytical report on the

Provided cover teaching across multiple schools and departments at short notice
Delivered Geography cover placement in Tenterden (Summer 2023)
Provided 1:1 SEN/SEND support, translating complex content into accessible resources
Built rapport quickly with unfamiliar groups to drive engagement and task completion

Provided cover teaching across multiple schools and departments at short notice
Delivered Geography cover placement in Tenterden (Summer 2023)
Provided 1:1 SEN/SEND support, translating complex content into accessible resources
Built rapport quickly with unfamiliar groups to drive engagement and task completion

Provided security and crowd management at public events across eastern Kent
Directed attendees, explained procedures, and resolved customer complaints calmly
Worked effectively in small teams in fast-paced, high-pressure environments

I supported deaf adults who also had mental or other physical health conditions. I remained in place for this short period of time because I decided that I could not be effective in the role going forward. For my benefit and that of the organisation, I decided to resign. This might seem like an odd decision, and certainly one to pronounce on LinkedIn. However, I quickly recognised that I was not a

Progressed from Assistant to Peer Mentor (including maternity cover)
Supported adults through structured coaching programmes toward education and employment goals
Used person-centred approach to build trust with individuals from diverse backgrounds
Recorded over 500 hours of mentoring activities during tenure

Supported local community projects, building experience in adult engagement and community-based support work
Completed maintenance tasks at Borth Animalarium, rebuilding confidence following health challenges

Delivered high-quality customer service in a fast-paced Food Hall environment
Managed stock replenishment and maintained store presentation standards
Communicated effectively with customers and colleagues to ensure smooth operations

Placement through the Prince's Trust and M & S during which I worked in customer service in the Food Hall.

Analysed large environmental datasets to produce graphical analysis of carbon emissions and environmental impact
Conducted international fieldwork in the Spanish Pyrenees, gaining hands-on research experience
Wrote and published an article in Population Matters Magazine (Autumn 2015 issue, front cover advertised)
Completed modules including Advanced Research Skills, Global Climate Change, and Envi

Delivered presentations to large groups about sea turtle injuries, rehabilitation, and conservation efforts
Conducted day and night patrols along nesting beaches to monitor and record nesting activity
Identified and recorded new nests, predated nests, and dead individuals found ashore
Contributed to data collection and record-keeping for sea turtle population monitoring
Supported rehabilitation an

Developed rapport with players in different teams and with differing abilities, achieved by coordinating training drills and using initiative to deliver in-game solutions to turn defeats into draws or victories.

Held a 60% win rate throughout my time supporting the team.

Left to organise visas and application forms for international volunteering placements, some of which fell through but ultimat

Fed and cleaned enclosures for rescued gibbons, ensuring high welfare standards
Conducted daily health checks and monitored primate physical condition
Collected data on female genital size to track reproductive cycle development
Provided environmental enrichment to encourage natural foraging behaviour
Delivered educational talks to visitors on illegal wildlife trade and its impact on endangered sp

Designed and presented an independent research protocol for ant biodiversity fieldwork in the Greek Islands
Participated in a pan-European research team studying the salt marsh ecosystem on southern Samos
Collected invertebrate samples from pitfall traps and analysed biological diversity at Order and Genus level
Assisted a PhD student with chameleon and viper monitoring efforts in the Dodecanese
S

Volunteered with the Conservation Society, primarily focusing on habitat management activities
Presented a talk to the Society on the use of metaphor and linguistic techniques in Charles Darwin's writing
Wrote regularly for the student newspaper Inquire, covering diverse topics from technology to sustainability
Encouraged fellow students to alter attitudes toward farmers markets, organic produce,

Visited the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust for one-week fieldwork module on endangered species recovery
Collected data to write an analytical report critiquing the management plan for the Round Island Keel-Scaled Boa
Achieved a high Merit grade for the research report
Developed skills in qualitative and quantitative analysis through extensive library research
Gained direct experience with ex-

Conducted independent dissertation research on climate change impact on attine ant foraging cycles
Collected data in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, Loreto Province, Amazon rainforest
Designed methodology using count surveys over ten-minute intervals following rainfall events
Identified positive correlation between rainfall duration and lag time to optimum foraging efficiency
Produced a full

Apr 2026

May 2026

Jul 2026

Applied social science methodologies to explore human-animal-environment relationships

Presented research on human-cobra conflict in India (Distinction) and non-human animal representation in art (1870–1940)

Developed advanced research, critical analysis, and academic writing skills

Balanced part-time study with paid work and unpaid carer responsibilities

Analysed large environmental datasets to produce graphical analysis of carbon emissions

Conducted international fieldwork in the Spanish Pyrenees

Published article in Population Matters Magazine (Autumn 2015 issue)

Thesis focused on urban green space design and its impact on mental health

Studied at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE)

Designed independent thesis on climate change impact on ant foraging cycles in Peruvian Amazon

Visited Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust to analyse species recovery plans

Volunteered with Kent Wildlife Trust, Rare Breeds Trust, and Zoological Society of London

Geography (A), Spanish (B), Psychology (D)

Scored 94% in main Geography paper

Achieved 8 GCSEs at A-C and Distinction in Diploma in Digital Applications

Participated in peer mentoring and extracurricular activities including football and ballroom dancing