Paul Roberts
Paul Roberts is currently Director of Strategy at the IDeA. He leads on policy, planning, quality and communications, as well as overseeing the Agency’s services in specific areas such as innovation, sustainable communities, health and social care, the voluntary sector and services for children and young people.
After graduating in Philosophy and Mathematics at the University of Bristol, he took postgraduate qualifications in Education at Bristol and at the Cambridge Institute of Education. He spent 13 years teaching before becoming an inspector of schools, and subsequently Director of Education in two multi-ethnic and urban locations.
His first Directorship was in 1997, for the new unitary council in Nottingham City where he established the Education service at local government reorganisation. He then joined Capita Strategic Education Services in 2001 and undertook the Director of Education role in the London Borough of Haringey, leading the successful Strategic Management Partnership established by the Secretary of State between Haringey Council and Capita. He was appointed a Director of Capita Strategic Education Services. From Capita he joined the IDeA in 2004.
He is currently adviser to Ministers in DCMS and DCSF on the development of the Five-Hour Cultural offer for children and young people – “Find Your Talent” - and chairs the Stakeholder Group for this. He is chair of the trustees for the company establishing the new arrangements for Creative Partnerships. He previously chaired the government's Creative and Cultural Education Board – established in response to his report for Ministers on “Nurturing Creativity in Young People.” He has been a Board Member of Nottingham Playhouse, was elected a FRSA in 1999, and is a member of the Innovation Committee of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts. He was awarded an OBE in 2008 for services to Education and the Cultural Industries.