DIRECTORS

Claire Hardy

Education and Schools Development Manager for Vivacity

Through her work as Education and Schools Development Manager at Vivacity, and as a Director of PHACE, Claire has responsibility for developing partnerships, strategy and cultural education provision within the city, to directly contribute to the growth of cultural capital for children and young people.  Claire concurrently project manages national partner education programmes, most significantly with the Natural History Museum, London.

Claire has twelve years’ experience of leading programme development in museums and galleries, covering education, events, festivals, exhibitions and commercial development, across numerous locations in the UK, including Cambridgeshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Cornwall.  Prior to working in the culture and heritage sector, Claire studied Art and Design History, going on to teach Art and Design at secondary and HE level.

Claire is a founding member of PHACE.

Iain Simper

Learning Partnership

I started my teaching career (B.Ed. Hons. from the University of Hertfordshire) in Peterborough as a class teacher at Thorpe Primary School in 1998, moving to Fulbridge Academy in 2002 and working as part of the senior leadership team. In 2005 I was seconded to Peterborough Local Authority to lead on Able, Gifted and Talented provision as part of the Excellence in Cities programme. Subsequently, I led on Learning Innovation across Peterborough schools. In 2010, I took on the role of Peterborough Learning Partnership Manager working closely with a large number of schools in and around Peterborough on school improvement via developing effective and responsive CPD programmes, collaborations and links to other organisations. During the period 2010 to 2015, I also had the privilege to work as a regional advisor on behalf of Excellence East, via the DCSF as was, supporting schools across East Anglia with their able, gifted and talented provision. More recently, as Chief Executive of the Peterborough Learning Partnership, I was responsible for creating, communicating, and implementing vision, mission, and overall direction. Supporting over 150 schools and providing membership services to over 80 schools during its’ 8 year lifespan, the PLP was a cornerstone of the professional development sector in the region.

I am now supporting schools on their development journeys, offering a suite of professional development opportunities bringing the very best consultants and organisations to schools.  Schools also benefit from bespoke services which include working with schools to understand their CPD needs, map against their SDP and then signpost/engage the school to/with experts in their field or in the local area.

I also support schools in a voluntary capacity via governance (currently supporting Stilton Primary Academy, Cambs, as Vice-Chair) and have active trustee status of a local charity (8th Earl of Sandwich Trust)