Alison Shakespeare joined the Perse in 2018. She read geography at Fitzwilliam College Cambridge and subsequently joined PricewaterhouseCoopers, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant. She worked in a series of senior finance roles before becoming Business Director and Clerk to the Governors of Leicester Grammar School Trust in 2006.

During her 12 years as Business Director of Leicester Grammar, Alison oversaw the relocation of the Trust’s schools to a new green field site and a major expansion of pupil numbers.   As Bursar of the Perse she is responsible for all support functions, including the School’s finances, IT, HR, buildings and grounds.

Alison is an ISI Compliance Inspector, carrying out school inspections for the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) and is also a member of the ISI Education Advisory Forum, a strategic body which advises the ISI Board.  She has previously served as a Director of the ISI, a Director of the Independent Schools Council, and a Trustee and Director of the ISBA (Independent Schools Bursars Association). She was national chair of the ISBA 2017-18.