Support Hub

Lisa Lound

Executive PA

Lisa supports the CEO and Director of Development, Operations & Governance, managing their busy diaries and has significant responsibilities in respect of co-ordination, oversight and prioritisation within the Trust on their behalf. Lisa contributes to the working practices of the Trust by identifying areas for improvement, using creativity, initiative and foresight to find resolutions.

Gayle Ellis

Trust Early Years Lead

Gayle is an Early Years specialist with over 25 years of comprehensive experience in the education sector. She has written several educational books to help parents to support their children with reading, writing and numbers.
Gayle’s career encompasses a multitude of roles, including Headteacher, Early Years Consultant, and Children’s Centre Teacher. Throughout her tenure, Gayle has demonstrated a profound commitment to fostering the development of young learners, actively promoting innovative teaching practices.
As a consultant, she has provided guidance and support to educational institutions, helping to enhance Early Years provision and ensuring that children receive the highest quality of education. Gayle is often called upon to deliver training and workshops for educators seeking to expand their knowledge and skills in early childhood development.

Katie Beeby

Deputy Trust Safeguarding Lead

Katie has worked in education for over 33 years undertaking roles within Early Years, SEND and Safeguarding. She is a Specialist Leader of Education and for the past 4 years worked within a CIT school as a Safeguarding Lead.
Katie’s role as Deputy Safeguarding Lead for the Trust involves her supporting all schools with safeguarding and working closely with our Trust Safeguarding Lead, to oversee all aspects of the Trust’s safeguarding arrangements (from monitoring safeguarding and child protection issues to managing specific cases).
Katie also supports the development of bespoke safeguarding training for all staff and the advancement of our Trust-wide safeguarding strategies.

Amanda Locke

Trust DSL

Amanda’s experience working with children and adults in both education, healthcare and social care settings has equipped her with a robust background spanning 20 years.
Specialising in safeguarding, behaviour, and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), she consistently strives to achieve the best results with a key strength in demonstrating empathy which enables her to develop trusting and positive relationships with families, children, and staff.
Amanda has previously worked in three schools across the Trust, now bringing her knowledge to the Support Hub to benefit all CIT schools.

Jacki Bartram

Head of Communications & Fundraising

Jacki is responsible for Trust-wide communications, PR, marketing and fundraising. She has been in post since the Trust’s inception in 2014. Jacki is a part of the Trust’s Onboarding Team (for schools joining) as well as the Free School Projects Team. She has supported nine schools to onboard into the Trust, as well as four Free Schools to open from fruition.
Prior to working for CIT, Jacki was a Director within the Radio industry.

Chris Lincoln

Communications & Fundraising

Chris supports the schools across the Trust with PR and Marketing opportunities. He also provides fundraising support to ensure the provision of new facilities for the pupils are brought to fruition.
Chris is also Project Lead for the SEND Workforce Development Project, commissioned by LCC, bringing together CPD resources and training opportunities for Lincolnshire professionals who work with pupils with SEND.

Andy Evans

Estates Manager

The Estates Manager’s role within the Trust is to support School Leaders and the Support Hub with all estates related work streams. Andy provides a joined up approach to site management allowing good practice to be shared, whilst maintaining a central reference point for all building or estate related queries to support all sites throughout CIT.

Darren Wilson

Procurement & Analytics Manager

With 25 years experience in the private and public sector, Darren has created a Trust-wide Procurement Strategy that encompasses the ethos and values of C.I.T. The Strategy focuses on high quality and best value for money while delivering services specifically required within individual schools. Darren provides support to schools advising on tendering requirements, suppliers and services and procurement law.

Tom Booth

ICT Strategic Lead

With a background in the information and technology industry for over 20 years, Tom went on to teach ICT to children with additional needs. He became a Deputy Head at a SEMH school and when the Trust began to grow, Tom was pivotal in the procurement and communication training across the Trust. Tom is now responsible for all ICT across the Trust.

Sarah Fardell

Data Protection Officer

Sarah supports CIT schools with data protection related queries, raising DP awareness across the Trust and reporting GDPR issues to ELT and Trustees. Sarah also supports the Trust’s mandatory eLearning. She has a wealth of knowledge within administrative roles across the private and public sector including 14 years working for the Department for Work and Pensions. Sarah joined CIT in 2015.