The Team

Carrie Herbert

Chief Executive

Carrie Herbert is the Chief Executive of Red Balloon Learner Centre Group. She trained as a teacher before emigrating to Australia but returned to the UK in the eighties to complete a Master's Degree at UEA and a PhD at Cambridge. Carrie began a consultancy business in Equal Opportunities before founding Red Balloon in 1996. She has written a number of books on the subject of bullying and harassment both in schools and in the workplace.

Dr Bob Sproson

Director of Education

Bob Sproson graduated from Birmingham University in 1973 and went on to teach English and history in mainstream schools.  In the 1980s Bob completed a diploma in pastoral care and counselling and moved into education 'otherwise than at school'.  Bob taught within the 'Community Home' system and was appointed head of an EBD special school, during which time he completed an MA at the University of East Anglia.  Since 1990, Bob has managed and taught in the EOTAS (education other than at school) provision across Cambridgeshire, completing a PhD in 1998.  Bob has worked as an associate lecturer and examiner for the Open University since 1986. He has also written a number of articles, covering subjects as diverse as metamemory and the use of Further Education provision in extending the Key Stage 4 curriculum.

Bob’s role within Red Balloon will be to support existing centres in their education provision, to manage INSET, to support personal and professional development of staff and to assist with OFSTED inspections. In addition he will develop relationships with the local authorities where we are setting up new centres and help in the recruitment and training of the staff required.

 

Geraldine Norris

Director of Operations

Geraldine Norris graduated from Kent University in 1986.  She then joined a leading global property company, based in London, where she gained 20 years experience of Corporate Affairs and Corporate Social Responsibility.    Geraldine is also an experienced Search Consultant recruiting Senior Executives within the UK’s Third Sector.

Geraldine’s role is to help establish new Red Balloons, from the moment a person or group expresses an interest in beginning the process to the handing of the staff and the trustees the keys to the building for its opening at the end of that process.  She will also look after each centre once it is up and running.  In addition, Geraldine will manage the marketing and communications plan across all Red Balloons, the relationship between corporations and Red Balloon and help with high profile fund raising events.

 

Ruth Loshak

Consultant Coordinator

Ruth started her working life as a programmer at the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory in the days when a single computer filled a room. She subsequently obtained a PGCE and taught in secondary modern, grammar and comprehensive schools in Cambridgeshire. Following this with initial teacher and in-service training of maths teachers, she happened to be around when Carrie was inspired to start Red Balloon and has been involved ever since – running Red Balloon-Cambridge as Coordinator for ten years, and now helping on various fronts, including the administration of Group office. Being asked to do some maths teaching is a pleasure!