From cricket to the OU and a teaching career . . . howzat!
With two double centuries and a total of 9,000 runs, professional cricketer Adrian Rollins was at the height of his career when an injury changed everything.
Fielding close to the wicket for Northamptonshire, he took a diving catch and broke his wrist so badly he had to leave the game in 2003.
Although his cricketing career was over, Adrian had been thinking about life after sport and was already under way with his studies at the Open University.
the 46-year-old father-of-three was supported by the Professional Cricketers’ Association, which helps players throughout their careers and afterwards.
he had initially signed up for a degree in Childhood and Youth Studies but soon discovered a love for mathematics and switched his path to work towards a BSc (hons) Open degree.
the flexible nature of this degree allowed him to build in maths modules to make up over 50 per cent of the content — which meant he could look into a career as a maths teacher.
Adrian completed his degree in 2007, picking up two certificates and a diploma along the way.
But sadly, his relationship broke down during his studies. Family law proceedings ensued and he is now a single parent with joint custody of his children. ‘thinking about my kids stopped me giving up — they needed to see their father working hard for them,’ he says.
Adrian was also juggling his studies with working as an unqualified teacher in a school.
‘it was tough but i kept to a strict regime where i would finish school, get my marking and planning done, go home and sleep from 8pm to 2am, then get up to study until 6.30am, when i would get ready for work,’ he says.
Adrian took on a range of teaching roles around maths and PE and is now deputy head teacher at the Da Vinci Academy in Derby.
Adrian remains impressed with the teaching materials and support provided by the OU.
‘My tutors were brilliant,’ he says. ‘i would say to anyone thinking of the OU, just go for it. What have you got to lose? Pace yourself, start slow and when your confidence builds, go a little harder.
‘the course will change your life for the better.’
FOR more information about the open University, go to open.ac.uk