Summer & Short Courses

Our Summer and Short Courses team are listed below:

Simon Talbot – Director of Summer and Short Courses

Simon has had an enjoyable career working with international students since 2007, in Summer Schools, Boarding Schools, Further Education Colleges and Universities in the UK and overseas. He joined St Clare’s in 2023 to lead the newly formed Summer and Short Courses division where he oversees a wide variety of programmes for over 1200 students every year.  Outside of work, Simon is an avid traveller, a drummer in a local band and spends his free time taking his dog for walks in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside.

Simon Halford-Thompson – Director of Studies

After studying International History & Politics at the University of Leeds, Simon began his EFL career in China. He then taught in Southern Italy and Northern Spain, and discovered summer schools, later managing Regent’s Stowe centre. Returning to the UK in 2019, he became Managing Tutor at Eckersley School of English before joining BSC Young Learners as Academic Operations Manager. In 2023, Simon returned to Oxford as Director of Studies. He enjoys music, sport particularly rugby, and cricket although he has now hung up his rugby boots after playing and coaching on his travels.

Mark Hewitt – Summer School Operations Manager

Mark joined St Clare’s in 2022 and is the Summer School Operations Manager, which means that he oversees the admissions, logistics and pastoral provision in the St Clare’s summer team. Prior to St Clare’s, he taught French and German in the state school sector for over 25 years. In his down time Mark enjoys cycling, gaming and quizzes. He can also do the Rubik’s Cube!

Andy Walsh – Group Programme and Short Course Coordinator

Andy first started working with international students in 2008 as an Activity Leader. He went on to work as an Activities Manager then Centre Manager in summer schools in the UK, Slovenia and Spain. Andy joined St Clare’s in May 2023 as the Group Programme Coordinator to take care of the many groups who come to St Clare’s. Outside of work, his passions are watching and playing sport, taking care of his leopard gecko Yoshi, and food and travel.

Claudia Cesaraccio – Short Courses Administrator

Claudia joined St Clare’s as the Summer School administrator in 2022. She comes from a background in EFL teaching and here at St Clare’s she is primarily focused on admissions and staff recruitment.

Jordan Wheel – Short Courses Operations Officer

Before joining St Clare’s, Jordan completed his PGCE in Business with SEND and went on to work as a Business tutor and pastoral consultant. He then joined the Summer Schools and Short Courses team as Summer Welfare Manager, before becoming Short Courses Operations Officer in 2025. In this role he supports all cohorts of short course students throughout the year. Outside of work, Jordan is always searching for the next great place to eat… recommendations are very welcome.