Laura Cooke

Experienced partnership, education and skills professional with a strong track record of building stakeholder relationships, developing collaborative projects and increasing engagement in learning. Skilled in working across education, employers, community organisations and public-sector partners, with extensive knowledge of the North Yorkshire landscape. A confident communicator and influencer who combines strategic thinking with practical programme delivery to create opportunities, strengthen partnerships and improve outcomes.

Learning Attraction Partnership Manager - WEA

(2025-05)

• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships across North Yorkshire, supporting access to adult learning opportunities.
• Build relationships with local authorities, community organisations, education providers and other stakeholders to identify collaborative activity and referrals.
• Work closely with partners to understand local needs and connect individuals and communities with appropriate learning provision.
• Coordinate learner attraction and engagement activity, working with tutors and internal teams to support effective programme delivery and enrolment.
• Represent WEA at partnership meetings, community events and stakeholder forums, communicating provision and identifying opportunities for joint working.
• Monitor engagement activity and respond to changing priorities, using stakeholder feedback and performance information to inform future activity.
• Manage multiple relationships and competing priorities independently across a geographically dispersed area.

Education and Communication Officer - Thalia Waste Management

(2022-09 - 2025-05)

• Developed strong relationships with schools, local authorities, businesses, universities and community organisations across North Yorkshire.
• Designed and delivered education and engagement programmes supporting sustainability, environmental awareness and organisational objectives.
• Planned and coordinated large-scale events, school programmes, public visits, workshops and stakeholder engagement activity from concept through to evaluation.
• Presented complex environmental and sustainability information to diverse audiences, including children, young people, community groups, university students and business representatives.
• Developed innovative approaches to engage harder-to-reach audiences and adapted provision in response to stakeholder needs and feedback.
• Worked within a safety-critical industrial environment, balancing educational objectives with operational, safeguarding and HSEQ requirements.

Self-employed Spanish & French Tutor

(2019 - 2022)

• Designed and delivered personalised language programmes for children, young people and adults.
• Managed learner and parent relationships, adapting provision to individual needs and monitoring progress.
• Managed all aspects of planning, communication and delivery independently.

Teacher & Head of Modern Foreign Languages - Pocklington School

(2005 - 2022)

• Progressed through teaching and leadership responsibilities during my extensive career in education, developing a detailed understanding of schools, curriculum delivery and young people's learning and development.
• Led Modern Foreign Languages provision, including curriculum planning, assessment, departmental development and initiatives to improve learner engagement and outcomes.
• Built strong relationships with pupils, parents, colleagues and external stakeholders and contributed to wider school priorities.
• Led complex educational activities including international trips involving up to 70 pupils and staff, managing planning, communication, risk and resources.
• Supported and mentored colleagues and trainee teachers and contributed to staff development and collaborative improvement.

Supply Teacher - Teaching Personnel

(2021 - 2022)

• Delivered teaching across primary and secondary settings, adapting quickly to different organisations, teams and learner needs.

Chairperson Trustee - 1st Selby Abbey Scouts

(2025)

• Provide strategic leadership and governance, working collaboratively with trustees, volunteers, parents and the wider community.
• Chair meetings and support effective decision-making, compliance, resource management and development of the group.

Learning & Development Consultant Business Partner (CIPD) (2024 - 2025)

PGCE - Manchester Metropolitan University

BSc (Hons) - Spanish & Psychology - Staffordshire University

European Baccalaureate - Scuola Europea Culham