by Lauren Harris

An Army veteran who fought in Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland has become a primary school teacher through a government scheme and has called it the “most rewarding” career.

James Barnard, 36, is currently working at Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School in Barnstaple after joining the two-year Troops to Teachers training programme.

The Department of Education scheme takes ex-service personnel with more than five years of service and exchanges their service record into civilian qualifications. It is employment based with trainees completing one study day per week, and spending the rest of the week working in a school.