At Havant & South Downs College, we have a number of highly skilled, dedicated and passionate teaching staff.
These lecturers go above and beyond to help our students reach their full potential.
We want to shout about these integral members of our HSDC community, so every month we will be finding out about the people behind our teaching excellence with our ‘Staff in the Spotlight’ feature.
This month we are recognising Martyn Bell who is the Course Manager for Public Services.
Position at HSDC?
Course manager of Public Services, tutoring all groups under my care and Pastoral Leader for all Uniformed Services levels
How long have you worked at the College?
12 years
Why did you choose the subject that you teach?
My background is sport science and PE but 19 years ago I was introduced to the Uniformed and Public Service NCFE and BTEC courses as a Physical Training Instructor due to my limited army experience, and I never looked back.
What was your journey/training before coming to HSDC?
I took a slight backdoor route into lecturing. After a short amount of time in the army as a Royal Engineer, I retrained as a Personal Trainer and worked in large chain gym in Medway, Kent. I was introduced after a couple of years to the head of sport department in Gravesend College, who invited me to teach the CYQ Gym Instructor Awards. I did this for a year and then expanded into Uniformed and Public Services. After two years I completed my Cert Ed and then the College sponsored me to study a for a BSc Sport and Exercise Science at South Bank University. After seven years at North West Kent College I moved to Hampshire and was lucky enough to be accepted into the Sport and Public Service team at HSDC.
Do you practice the subject you teach outside of work?
The subjects I teach now are quite broad. However, the units I teach are all of a personal interest, especially the Expedition Skills and Land-Based Activities, which lend themselves to running residentials and adventurous activities, that I partake in in my spare time. Health and fitness has always been my lifestyle choice and this is also reflected in the Physical Preparation and Fitness Testing in the Public Services units that I deliver to my students.
What is the highlight of your role at HSDC?
Working with the students is the biggest highlight for me. They seem to really get involved. This may be the nature of the course; they can see the training and depth of knowledge we provide is really going to help them in their future career and perhaps even save their lives. The trips and residentials are a big highlight for me and my team. It brings the students and staff together in a challenging but safe environment and really brings out the teamwork and leadership skills. Also gets us out of the classroom!
What kind of careers have your students gone on to do?
We have a had a number of successful Royal Marines, Navy applicants always do well. For the Police and Fire Services we struggle due to the number of jobs and the need for more mature students in those roles. However, I do keep in touch with ex students who are now in their 30s, and they have gone onto fantastic careers in the emergency services. I have two local Paramedics which regularly come in to guest speak. I have a large number that study at Criminology at Portsmouth University and it’s these students that may move into the higher roles within the services.
What kind of opportunities are students offered on your course?
Besides the three A Level equivalent qualification, the students are offered the opportunity to join our Combined Cadet Force where they gain the experience of being part of the MOD and what that can offer; for example, instructor training courses, marksmanship principles and range days, drill instructor awards and all sorts of other instructor type awards (there are too many to mention them all). The students also get an opportunity to compete their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award in their first year. We also deliver the two star Paddle Boarding certificate in year two. Above all this are the soft skills of teamwork, leadership, communication, value and standards that are encouraged throughout the course and have the most sway over their chances of entering the uniformed services
What three words would your students use to describe you?
Caring, motivational and professional.