STUART Goldsmith is putting his pupils through their paces in an energetic athletics lesson at Archbishop Holgate's School in York.

After a decent warm up, the boys do some sprints and jumps - and are soon breaking sweat in the spring sunshine.

It's a world away from Stuart's first career, as a soldier in the Royal Logistics Corps, which took him to postings all over the world, including Camp Bastion in Afghanistan.

In the army, Stuart was a physical training instructor. His role was to keep soldiers fit and ensure reservists were ready for action.

Many reserve personnel would be medics, and his responsibility was to make sure they could cope with the physical demands of a posting, especially in hot climates such as the middle east.

"I would help get them ready to be deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan," says Stuart, aged 31. "They were people like nurses and anaesthetists, and we would make sure their soldiering and fitness skills were up to scratch. It was important they had a base level of fitness - when you are fit, you deal with the heat better."

Stuart did well in the army, rising to the rank of corporal. Growing up in Whitby, he studied sports science at college before signing up. He was just 20 and his girlfriend, Sally, had just given birth to their daughter, Liv.

He was exceptionally sporty, and in training found he was always at the front of races and obstacle courses. "It is a very physical job and, if you are at the front, it gets you a lot of respect as a soldier. If you can show what you can do, it always stands you in good stead for promotion."

As a physical training instructor he was eventually stationed at the Harrogate Army Foundation College, licking 16-year-old rookies into shape. "We took them from raw recruits to trained soldiers in one year. Besides teaching them running and gym work, we did canoeing, kayaking, hillwalking and adventure training, focussing on building teamwork. I enjoyed teaching them and having that leadership role."

Soldiers can retire on a full pension after 22 years' service, but Stuart never thought that would be his path. He was young enough to consider a second career, so when he saw a recruitment notice for a new scheme converting ex-service personnel into teachers, he was interested.

Troops to Teachers was the brainchild of former Conservative education secretary Michael Gove. It had the triple aim of offering job opportunities to people leaving the services, helping the nation's teacher shortage and instilling some military principles into schools.

Stuart was one of the very first recruits. The programme is for two years and is tough. Mostly on-the-job training, Stuart worked for four days a week at Manor Academy in York, and had a study day every Friday, when he took part in on-line lectures in pursuit of his degree. There were assignments and study weeks too - and all for a fraction of a teacher's pay.

Stuart made ends meet by working part time as a trainer with British Military Fitness - a second job he still holds today.

But it was worth it, he says. After graduating, he secured a full-time job as a PE teacher at Archbishop Holgate's School in York - beating almost 80 applicants for the coveted role.

As a newly qualified teacher, he is enjoying his second career immensely.

"It is really good. I feel I am fairly good at it - though I made loads of mistakes! It is good that I enjoy sport and PE and know the subject really well as I am now working with pupils doing GCSEs and A Levels.

"If feels really good seeing kids learning from what you teach them and getting good grades."

Stuart reveals he does bring army skills into how he teaches - but it doesn't involve barking orders and posturing like a sergeant major.

"You don't have to shout. In the army, you have to adapt to different situations. You have to find approachable ways to be inclusive and to subtly get people to do things. If soldiers are willing, they will do a better job than if they are forced to do it."

Many of his soldiering skills are transferable to the classroom - or in his case, gym hall or school field.

"Being organised helps making sure deadlines are met. Team work and communication are important, and resilience - you have got to get the planning done. People in the army, RAF and navy tend to have a "can do" attitude: you can have a good moan, but you have got to get on with it."

One thing is for sure. After two years as a teacher, he has a new respect for the profession. And it is a career he would recommend to others in the services.

"If you are teaching, lecturing or coaching and you enjoy it, teaching is a good life-long career - and something you are only going to get better at as you get older."

Find out more about the Troops to Teachers scheme at: getintoteaching.education.gov.uk and search under 'troops to teachers'