Executive Team

Our team has significant experience and expertise in school improvement work, improving teaching and learning, assessment for learning, spearheading ongoing curriculum development, Initial teacher training and delivering professional development on leadership and management.

We know what outstanding leadership, governance, teaching, and learning looks like, and we are constantly in the pursuit of a world-class education offering for all.

Andrea Curtis – The Hawksmoor Learning Trust CEO (Ex Officio)

Andrea is a highly successful teacher and leader with considerable expertise in school improvement, teacher training and staff development.  She has been a successful Headteacher for 20 years and joined Nicholas Hawksmoor Primary in 2013.  At NHPS she has led the school to achieve Sponsor School status, approved by the DfE, followed by the conversion of the school to a multi – academy trust which now comprises of 4 successful schools. Andrea has always demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting schools beyond her own, working locally and nationally in an advisory capacity and remains passionate about learning for pupils and professionals, including herself.

A summary of her experienced is shown below:

  • Successfully tendered for and opened The Radstone Primary School, Brackley 2018 and Marie Weller Primary in September 2023.
  • In 2017 - sponsored, built the team and led the transformation of Bracken Leas Primary from ‘Special Measures’ to ‘Good’.
  • Partner Head for Northants LA supporting Headteachers in additional schools in Northamptonshire.
  • Completed ‘Executive Educators’ course for MAT leadership.
  • Contributor to DfE Women CEO initiative.
  • Trained Ofsted Inspector (PQSI qualification) since 2013.
  • Steering Group member for SWAN Teaching School Alliance Primary Heads Group.
  • Steering Group member for Milton Keynes Teaching School Alliance.
  • Challenge Adviser for EMLC at Hardingstone Academy supporting improvement (the school moved from ‘Special Measures’ to ‘Good’ in this time).
  • LLE used as NLE at Gt Linford Primary in Milton Keynes (moved from RI to ‘Good’ 2012). Impact was noted in the report.
  • Former Headteacher member of Milton Keynes School Effectiveness Partnership Board supporting improvement strategy across Milton Keynes.
  • Former Headteacher of Bushfield School, Milton Keynes – appointed when the school was in Special Measures (Sept 2007) – moved from good with outstanding in many areas including leadership (Ofsted Feb 2008 and June 2010).
  • Seconded to Meadfurlong School, Milton Keynes as Associate Head to support Headteacher improve the school (Ofsted Grade 3 to Grade 2) (2006-2007).
  • Interim Headteacher of Two Mile Ash School in Milton Keynes for 4 terms (April 2005 – Sept 2006)– School judged outstanding in all areas during this time.
  • Completed study: MBA in International Educational Leadership.
  • Former Chair and Steering Group member of PEP:mk which grew from 12 member schools to a strong partnership of 60+ schools providing high quality CPD at all staffing levels across MK and now Northants.
  • Originally set up, achieved accreditation and led Two Mile Ash ITT Partnership, which continues to provide outstanding teacher, training for 40 trainees each year.
  • Advised nationally to Local Authorities and Headteachers across England on Effective Pupil Tracking and Assessment.

Peter Spruce, COO

Peter Spruce BSc (Hons), FIoD:  Managing Director, Losberger De Boer UK Ltd (“LDB”), Brackley, Northamptonshire.

LDB provides large-scale temporary infrastructure and has an annual turnover of £12m and employs 39 staff. Peter has served as Managing Director for De Boer for over 16 years and reports directly to the Group CEO (LDB group is an international company, with a turnover of £200m employing 1,100 people). Peter has full Profit & Loss responsibility and during his tenure as MD of the UK business (the largest in the Group) he has also acted as interim MD for De Boer businesses in Spain and Scandinavia, in addition to orchestrating the successful “start-up” of a business unit in the Middle East.

Peter was project director for both the De Boer Mass Fatality response in the wake of the London 2005 bombings and for the provision of the Athletes’ Village and Olympic Hospitality Centre at the London 2012 Games. Prior to De Boer Peter spent several years in senior commercial roles with Silverstone Circuit and Lola Cars.

Peter has significant experience in business ‘turn-around’, change-management and profitable new market development at an international level but continues to be a strong advocate for corporate support of local initiatives.

Senior Leadership Team

Paula Harwood, Headteacher at Bracken Leas Primary School

Paula has been part of The Hawksmoor Learning Trust since the beginning, previously teaching at NHPS and part of the senior leadership team. In 2017, Bracken Leas Primary joined the Trust and Paula joined the school as Headteacher.

Bracken Leas had been judged by Ofsted as a failing school in 2016 and placed in special measures. Following a rigorous three years of school development and sustained improvement, Ofsted judged Bracken Leas as a ‘Good’ school earlier this year, March 2020. Ofsted recognised ‘intelligent and courageous leadership’, which had influenced ‘significant and rapid improvement’ at Bracken Leas, with capacity to continue improving.

Paula continues to look outwards in her role as a leader and works closely with the Executive Principal with school improvement work in all Trust schools.

Joseph Fulford, Headteacher at Nicholas Hawksmoor Primary School

Joseph is the Head of School of Nicholas Hawksmoor and has worked at this setting since 2005 taking on a variety of subject leadership roles over this time, including: PE & Sports, English & Maths. He is passionate about reading and continues to support the development of reading within the school and across the Trust. For the past five and half years, he has been the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the school along with leading on Pupil Premium, assessment, attendance, behaviour, and most recently curriculum development.

During this time, he has been a highly successful mentor for new teachers and students, and previously worked for Two Mile Ash as a member of their Quality Assurance Monitoring group (QUAM) ensuring consistency of standards and judgements across partnership schools. He completed his National Professional Qualification for Senior Leaders (NPQSL) in 2020 and is currently completing the National Professional Qualification for Headteachers (NPQH). In addition, he is working with other local trusts to further develop school improvement opportunities and continue his own professional development.

Outside of school he will most likely be found at a swimming pool supporting his children as they compete in club competitions, or on a squash court attempting to maintain some semblance of fitness!

Jenny Jeffery, Head of School at The Radstone Primary School

After being appointed as Deputy Head at The Radstone Primary School in September 2020, Jenny became Head of School in September 2021.  Ahead of this she began her teaching career at Nicholas Hawksmoor in 2004 where she proved herself to be an outstanding class teacher and leader in both Key Stage One and Key Stage Two (including teaching in Years 2 and 6).

Jenny was Assistant Head for many years at Nicholas Hawksmoor and, alongside behaviour, one of her main areas of responsibility was Mathematics, for which she was responsible for standards and development.  She was also a teacher governor for ten years.

Jenny has seen The Radstone grow rapidly from seven to thirteen classes and helped to lead it through its first Ofsted inspection in January 2023 where the school achieved a grading of Good.

As an experienced Senior Leader, Jenny is heavily involved in making key decisions to drive both the school and the Trust forward.

Dan Cox, Head of School at Marie Weller Primary School

Dan Cox has been a committed educator since 2012, and he joined Nicholas Hawksmoor Primary School (NHPS) in 2018. His career spans four schools, with senior leadership roles in three of them. At NHPS, Dan led the school to achieve a mental health accreditation, a process that included compiling a detailed evidence portfolio and undergoing thorough inspections.

In his role, Dan has been involved in curriculum development across the Trust's schools and has consulted on curriculum design. He has also supported many other schools across the country a curriculum consultant. Also, he has collaborated with Apple to assist schools in effectively utilising iPads in education, earning him the title of Accredited Apple Teacher.

His qualifications include life coaching, child counselling, and a National Professional Qualification in Headship. Dan’s focus extends to fostering community engagement in education and prioritising the mental health and overall wellbeing of children.