About Us
About Darkfire Education Ltd
Darkfire Education Ltd is fronted by Peter Ralley and Paul Cockcroft. both former headteachers. They first worked together in 2002 when they were asked to form a Networked Learning Community bringing together 12 schools to work as a network. This four year project saw the schools take the use of ICT to the cutting edge of school based technology including introducing whole class video conferencing in Staffordshire Education Authority. During this time Peter and Paul were asked by many organisations to make presentations to talk about their innovative use of ICT and were given a whole half page in the Times educational Supplement to show off their shared video conference lessons. They also wrote a research paper for the National College for School Leadership based upon effective communications between small rural schools.
In 2006 Darkfire Education Ltd was formed and Paul handed his notice in! January 2007 saw Darkfire exhibiting at BETT for the first time and Peter handed his notice in!. September 2007 saw Peter join the company full time, and they haven't looked back since.
Why the name Darkfire? It comes from the name given by Peter's sons to their film making company 'Darkfire Films'. we liked it so much we asked them if we could use it. They were delighted!
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Prior to entering the world of education Peter was a professional photographer working in a variety of areas from running a studio to press photography. He returned to college in 1985 and emerged four years later with a first class honours degree and a desire to make changes. Within five years he had made deputy head and two years later saw him take up the role of headteacher, one he kept for eleven years before leaving to work with Paul.
Darkfire is an ideal way for Peter to use his skills as photographer and teacher for the benefit of schools. Along with his wife, Paula, he runs the annual Alrewas Film Festival which is an outlet for local film makers of all ages.
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Paul went straight from University to a teaching position in the centre of Crewe. During this seven year period he was fortunate enough to become the Crewe Junior Town Team football manager, working closely with Crewe Alexandra to bring on players. His claim to fame is he coached Dean Ashton as an eleven year old! He made the move from key stage co-ordinator to headship in January 2000 and spent seven years in a Staffordshire primary school.
Paul resigned at the end of December 2006 to launch Darkfire Education Ltd, hoping Peter would follow suit at some point. The diversity of working with children, teachers and teaching assistants makes the job one of the best in the world for Paul.
In his spare time Paul plays seven a side football in goal for two local teams. His wife, Julie is a deputy in a Nantwich school. His eldest, Conor follows his dad and is a goalkeeper for the Nantwich Panthers. His youngest, Niamh is a keen dancer. The whole family are big Carlisle United fans!
Jim is the newest member of the team and will be working extensively with us in 2010. Jim runs 'The Big Art People' which organises and runs big art projects in schools all over the country.
Jim is an accomplished film maker and editor and has helped run film making courses with us in the past.
A first class honours graduate from Sheffield Jim studied for part of his time in America. He also spent a year teaching in Spain, not only teaching English but becoming fluent in Spanish.