Carre’s Grammar School is delighted to welcome Jo Smith as Executive Headteacher, marking a significant moment in the school’s long history as she becomes the first female Executive Headteacher of Carre’s since the school was founded more than 400 years ago.
Mrs Smith joins the role following her successful leadership at Kesteven & Sleaford High School, where she served as Head of School. She succeeds Nick Law, who has taken up the position of Director of Secondary Education with the Community Inclusive Trust (CIT).
Speaking about her appointment, Mrs Smith said she feels privileged to lead both Carre’s and Kesteven & Sleaford High School at such an exciting time. While recognising the historical significance of her appointment, she emphasised that her focus is on building on the strengths, traditions and achievements of both schools while ensuring they continue to evolve to meet the needs of today’s young people.
Having accepted the role several months before formally taking up the position, Mrs Smith has spent time meeting staff, students and parents, gaining valuable insights into both school communities and helping to shape future priorities.
She has been particularly struck by the strong sense of pride, loyalty and care that exists within Carre’s. Through conversations with students, staff and families, she identified the school’s nurturing environment, high aspirations and strong pastoral support as qualities that are deeply valued and central to its identity.
Mrs Smith is passionate about ensuring every student feels safe, supported and inspired to achieve their potential. She believes that a strong sense of belonging, combined with high expectations for achievement, behaviour and personal development, provides the foundation for success both in school and beyond.
A key priority for Mrs Smith is continuing to strengthen the collaboration between Carre’s and Kesteven & Sleaford High School while preserving the unique character of each school. She highlighted the success of the Sleaford Joint Sixth Form as an excellent example of how partnership working can broaden opportunities and enrich the educational experience for students.
Mrs Smith will work closely with the schools’ leadership teams, including Jamie Holland at Carre’s and Katy Stokes at Kesteven & Sleaford High School, who will continue to lead the day-to-day operation of their respective schools.
As part of the Community Inclusive Trust, both schools benefit from being members of a wider family of schools, enabling them to share expertise and best practice while maintaining their individual identities and educational traditions.
Looking ahead, Mrs Smith’s priorities include creating welcoming and inspiring learning environments, maintaining high standards of teaching and learning, and ensuring that every student feels valued, supported and capable of achieving more than they thought possible.
She said: “We want every young person to know that they are seen, that they matter and that they are capable of achieving great things. By working together as a school community, we can continue to provide exceptional opportunities for all our students to thrive.”
