Meet The Team
Luke Hart, Interim Director of Summer School
Luke has worked in the EFL industry for over 10 years in various roles from Accommodation Officer to UK Operations Manager for a multi-site Summer School provider. His previous role as Centre Manager in a residential school involved managing both junior and adult year-round programmes. Luke graduated from Brighton University where he studied Sports Coaching and Development. With a passion for water sports, he has spent 2 Years travelling around Spain, Italy and France working as a Water Sports Instructor and Operations Manager. Outside of work, Luke enjoys spending time with his young children Joseph and Rueben, nature and watching football and rugby. luke.hart@bedes.org
Alicja Penrose, Operations, Marketing and Academic Manager
Alicja has a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics and has been working as an EFL teacher and teacher trainer in Poland, Spain and the UK for nearly 20 years. Prior to Bede’s, Alicja spent 10 years working for a big summer school provider in the UK and Malta at centre level, and it is where she was first introduced to the study and travel industry. With a BA degree in Marketing and Advertising, she is adding a new face to Bede’s on social media. In her free time, Alicja enjoys exploring new places and capturing them on camera, learning new languages and spending time in global communities. She is also committed to life-long learning and keen on further developing her TEFL-Q qualifications. alicja.penrose@bedes.org
Nicky Woollard, Enterprise & Social Programme Manager
Nicky has over 15 years experience in events and project management and her early career includes teaching English abroad. Nicky has a degree in Recreation Management, a CELTA qualification and speaks French and Spanish. Her role includes responsibility for facilities hire, bringing new revenue to Bede's Trust and managing the Summer School academies and excursions programme. Outside of work, Nicky enjoys socialising, horse riding and going for long walks with her rescued Springer Spaniel, Nala. She lives with her husband Danny and daughter Lola. nicky.woollard@bedes.org
Alex De Melo, Enterprise Coordinator & Holiday Club Manager
Alex completed university with a PGCE in Physical Education and a degree in Sport and Exercise Science. Since then, she has been teaching in schools across East Sussex, prior to joining the Head Office team. Alex originally joined Bede’s Summer School in 2018 as an Activity Leader. Having thoroughly enjoyed her summers working with Bede’s, she now manages Bede’s Holiday Club and works closely with Nicky coordinating the Bede’s Enterprises. Outside of work, Alex has a keen interest in surfing and also plays competitive Hockey for her local Hockey Club. ade-melo@bedes.org
Neil Firman, Admissions Manager
Neil has a degree in French and has previously worked in the fields of multilingual customer service and ESL teaching. Prior to joining Bede’s, Neil spent 11 years working as an English teacher in Japan for a private English conversation school, where he taught both adults and children at over 40 branch school locations across the country. As the Admissions Manager, Neil's responsibilities include promoting Bede’s Summer Courses and managing enrolments and enquiries related to bookings and payments. In his spare time, Neil enjoys reading, swimming, watching films, spending time with his daughter Frida and studying foreign languages. He is also teaching himself programming with Python at a beginner level. neil.firman@bedes.org
Tracey Cook, Admissions and Sales Officer
Tracey has 20 years experience in private language schools, in both teaching and management, and has a Cambridge DELTA and a DELTM. Tracey lived in Hong Kong, Singapore and Finland and prior to joining the EFL industry held positions in marketing agencies with international clients. Now at Bede's, she is enjoying her role supporting the Admissions and Sales Departments, marketing high quality eduational programmes. Tracey loves spending time on and in water and, when possible, taking her boat on the river Thames. tracey.cook@bedes.org
Tracey has 20 years experience in private language schools, in both teaching and management, and has a Cambridge DELTA and a DELTM. Tracey lived in Hong Kong, Singapore and Finland and prior to joining the EFL industry held positions in marketing agencies with international clients. Now at Bede's, she is enjoying her role supporting the Admissions and Sales Departments, marketing high quality eduational programmes. Tracey loves spending time on and in water and, when possible, taking her boat on the river Thames. tracey.cook@bedes.org
Annabel Schulte, Recruitment Coordinator
Annabel originally joined Bede's Summer School in 2019 after living in Canada for 7 years. She moved to a different role within Bede's before returning to the summer school this year in her new role as our Recruitment Coordinator. Annabel has a degree in Theatre Production and enjoys anything creative. As Recruitment Coordinator Annabel's role is hiring and managing all of our summer school staff. She enjoys working closely with Ana to bring organisation and positivity to our recruitment. annabel.schulte@bedes.org
Ana Sadler, Recruitment and Onboarding Assistant
Ana has a degree in Chinese Studies, part of which included studying Mandarin for a year at a university in Beijing, China. Summer School is a new venture for Ana, having started in the Admissions Department as Admissions Executive, helping deal with booking enquires and enrolments, now moved on to join the Recruitment Team as Recruitment and Onboarding Assistant. Outside of work, Ana loves agility training with her dog and teaching herself to crochet. ana.sadler@bedes.org
Ana has a degree in Chinese Studies, part of which included studying Mandarin for a year at a university in Beijing, China. Summer School is a new venture for Ana, having started in the Admissions Department as Admissions Executive, helping deal with booking enquires and enrolments, now moved on to join the Recruitment Team as Recruitment and Onboarding Assistant. Outside of work, Ana loves agility training with her dog and teaching herself to crochet. ana.sadler@bedes.org