Meet CELT’s New Chief Operating Officer

Clare Ridehalgh joined us as our Chief Operating Officer on 1st January 2021. Clare was previously employed as the Deputy CEO (Operations) at Kernow Learning (formerly known as TLAT) and her ability as an operational leader is recognised locally and regionally. Clare is designated as a Specialist Leader in Education for Academy Transition and Business Management. Since her employment by Kernow Learning in 2010, she has undertaken the project management of the conversion process to academy of 18 schools, at the request of the RSC supported the mergers of complex MATs, provided operational support to the re-brokering of academies within MATs, and project managed the merger of ACE and TLAT into Kernow Learning.

Clare joins CELT with an excellent track record in leading on human resources, policy development, financial management, risk management, income generation and estate management. As Company Secretary for Kernow Learning and previously advisor to the KCT, she has led on the development of structure and systems for compliance and governance in Multi Academy Trusts and provided advice and guidance to Directors and Trustees to enable them to make decisions with due regard to statutory and regulatory frameworks. Since being offered the post with CELT, Clare has voluntarily supported CELT to submit a successful funding application to the Low Carbon Skills Fund to support the development of de-carbonisation plans.

Prior to becoming involved in education and the development of academies, Clare’s previous experience was in voluntary sector development work focused on trustee development and volunteer involvement. As National Development Director of SOVA, she was responsible for the development of innovative projects and the management of complex partnership projects with statutory and voluntary sector partners. As Director of MIND, she was responsible for the operational and strategic management of a local voluntary sector mental health service.