Luke Rake

Luke Rake BA(Oxon) PGCE FLS joined Kingston Maurward as Principal and Chief Executive in the summer of 2016, following nearly 10 years at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire, most of which as Vice Principal with executive responsibility for all Further Education provision.

An Oxford-educated zoologist from the dark recesses of Devon, Luke is qualified Secondary range teacher with a specialism in Biology alongside Outdoor Education, and during his career has held roles in both schools and colleges including Head of Biology and Head of Sixth Form, roles which resulted in him being awarded Fellowship of the Linnean Society in recognition for work in promoting biological understanding.

Luke is full board member of the Dorset LEP, chairs the Rural Enterprise Group and is the LEP representative on the Local Nature Partnership. For the LEP he also is a member of the following Skills Advisory Board, and Performance and Investment Committee. Luke is the current Chair of the pan-Dorset Careers and Enterprise Steering group, working with LEP, schools and businesses across the county. More widely he sits on the Careers and Enterprise Company’s Headteachers’ Advisory Panel and is the SW representative on the national Landex Board, representing land-based and environmental education across the UK.

In his limited spare time Luke is a gigging musician in a heavy metal band, and is frequently found outside walking a long distance with his dog, his children, or all three. This allows him time to provide enthusiasm and excessive detail to their understanding of biology and physical geography, for which their gratitude is endless.