Leadership

Peter Bell

CEO

Peter is the founding CEO of CIT. The Trust was formed in 2014. A National Leader of Education and formerly an Ofsted Inspector as well as an elected member of the Regional Schools Commissioners Head Teachers Board, Peter brings drive, ambition and the skill set to ensure that the individual pupils across the Trust receive the highest levels of education and care. 

Daran Bland

Chief Finance and Operations Officer

Having previously been the Executive Headteacher for three special schools within the Trust, Daran has over 25 years of successful leadership experience, supporting his schools to Good and Outstanding Ofsted judgements. He is  responsible for Finance and Operations across the Trust.
This role includes corporate responsibility for Estates, IT & Procurement, and the strategic management of Trust expansion projects and sponsorships.

Paul Hill

Director of Primary Education

Having been in education for over 25 years, Paul has been a Teacher, SENCo, Headteacher and Executive Head. He is also a Local Leader of Education. These roles have been undertaken across 4 different LAs giving a breadth of experience. As Director of Primary Education for the Trust, Paul regularly visits each of our mainstream primary schools, working with leaders to ensure the highest quality of education is provided.
Paul has driven school improvement that has enabled four of CIT’s sponsored Academies to now be graded ‘Good’. Most recently Spalding St Paul’s in 2024.

James Ellis

Director of SEND Education

James was a Headteacher of two specialist schools for over 8 years. In his role of Director of Education for SEND for the Trust he oversees the running of our specialist schools. He line manages the headteachers and ensures that they have all the support/challenge required to maintain the best possible education for pupils in our schools.
James has a strong track record of supporting school improvement across the East Midlands over the last 10 years.
James also has oversight of the LEARN SEND Hub.

Steve Scott

Director of HR

Steve has over 15 years’ experience working within the education sector in a variety of roles providing support to staff and schools.
Steve is responsible for managing the central HR team, ensuring that robust procedures and processes are in place and maintained and providing effective advice to schools.

Becky Jackson

Trust Safeguarding Lead & Deputy Director of Primary Education

Becky is the Strategic Lead for Safeguarding across the Trust. In addition, in her role as Deputy Director, she supports the Directors of Education for both mainstream and special schools to drive improvement and ensure all our pupils receive high quality provision and care.
Becky works with the LEARN SEND Hub to deliver support and training to schools outside the Trust in her role as an LLE.  She has nearly 30 years of experience in education with 10 of those years as a Headteacher.

Jane Starbuck

Strategic Lead for Trust Development & Governance

Jane has worked in education for many years, fulfilling roles such as Headteacher, Strategic Leader of Inclusion, and SENDCo. She previously worked for Nottinghamshire County Council as their Education Improvement Adviser with responsibility for SEND, establishing effective collaborations between schools to develop specialist and alternative provision.
Jane is also the Deputy Regional Leader for East Midlands, South Yorkshire and Humber for Whole School SEND, and a lecturer on the National SENCO Award for Nottingham Trent University.

Nick Law

Director of Secondary Education

Nick Law is an experienced Executive Headteacher with over 20 years in senior leadership. He currently leads Carre’s Grammar School and Kesteven & Sleaford High School, working closely with the Headteacher of KSHS to ensure both schools deliver a first-class education and oversee the smooth operation of their co-educational Sixth Form partnership with St George’s Academy. Nick is a Local Leader in Education and actively contributes to strategic educational development. His leadership philosophy centres on coaching and collaboration, fostering a culture where leaders at all levels are empowered to drive school improvement.

Emily Walker

Director of LEARN SEND Hub

Emily has worked in education for 23 years, having taught in a mixture of mainstream primary and special secondary schools in various locations and roles, from teacher through to senior leader. She strongly believes that all children deserve the best possible chance to succeed in life. Emily is passionate about supporting teachers and leaders to make this happen.
As Director of LEARN, Emily is actively involved with Local Authorities, supporting the alignment of SEND training.
Emily is also Whole School SEND Regional LEAD & National Coordinator of the East Midlands, South Yorkshire and Humber Whole School SEND Team.

Kyna Adkins

Deputy Director of SEND Education

Kyna has worked in education for 23 years, originally working in mainstream secondary settings. She then developed into leadership roles with a focus on inclusion, behaviour and safeguarding.
Most recently, over the last 7 years, Kyna has worked in a large all needs 3 to 19 special school in Lincoln as the Headteacher.
Kyna supports our SEND schools to maintain the best possible education for pupils in our schools.

Tom Thorpe

Headteacher – Billingborough Primary School & Preschool

Tom has worked in primary education for over 15 years. He has experience of working across a range of primary schools and he has fulfilled a variety of roles in the classroom and as a leader. He is passionate about inclusion and getting education right for all children. He is keen that every child should achieve their best regardless of their individual starting points. He wants all pupils to feel happy and safe in school so that they can achieve their potential. Tom values the development of every member of his school team so they can deliver high quality learning opportunities.

Sara Pask

Headteacher – Bingham Primary School

Sara has been in Primary Education for 20 years and during that time has taught in both KS1 and KS2. 
She wants all pupils to feel happy and safe at school and have a love for learning so that they leave Bingham Primary School ready for the next steps in their education.

Laura Turner

Headteacher – Boston Endeavour Academy

Laura’s journey in education began as a PE Teacher in a mainstream secondary school. Following a master’s degree in special educational needs, she worked across a variety of alternative provisions holding numerous leadership roles including Teacher, Deputy Head, and SENDCo, during which she achieved the National Award for SEN Coordination (NASENCO). She served in the SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health) sector as a Deputy Headteacher, Head of School, and DSL, where she played a key role in improving behaviour, attitudes, and the quality of teaching and learning. As Headteacher of a SEMH specialist school, Laura led the school from ‘special measures’ through to being rated ‘good’ in all areas by Ofsted. Following this success, Laura took on a wider strategic role as Executive Headteacher, leading two schools – one specialist and one mainstream primary – during the 2024-25 academic year. Laura holds the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH), and in addition to her school-based leadership, supports the Trust by conducting SEND Reviews across the county and delivering the National Professional Qualification in Leading Behaviour and Culture for aspiring leaders in Lincolnshire. She is also a visiting lecturer at Lincoln Bishop University, where she supports PGCE teacher training students. She is currently studying for her NPQEL (National Professional Qualification in Executive Leadership).

Toby Ellis

Headteacher – Bowman Academy

Bio coming soon…

Helen Hunt

Headteacher – Caythorpe Primary School

Helen has taught in a range of primary settings across the primary age phases. She has experience of curriculum leadership as well as leading KS1 and KS2. Helen believes in education for all, to provide a safe and secure learning environment. This is to ensure children can grow physically, mentally, emotionally and socially. She is passionate in providing rich, real-life learning experiences to enable pupils to make meaningful and memorable connections in their learning.

Sherilyn Borrell

Headteacher – Chapel St Leonard’s Primary School & Nursery

Mrs Borrell has been teaching for over 24 years. She has held various roles over her career including Designated Teacher for Looked After Children (LAC), SEND, Safeguarding, SLT and Deputy Head.
Sherri has achieved the National SENDCo Award and has a Diploma in SEND along with NPQH, NPQSL and NPQBC. She has worked closely with children with ASD, ADHD, Pathological Demand Avoidance and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Sherri thoroughly believes that the child should be at the centre of everything we do in school.

Ashley Caress

Headteacher – Foxfields Academy

Ashley has worked in SEN schools since 2013. Ashley is passionate about pupils of all ages and abilities having equal opportunities. He believes strongly in providing a wide range of experiences that enrich the lives of young people and help to best prepare them for life after school.
Ashley holds the NPQH and is a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE).

Andy Rush

Headteacher – Greenfields Academy

Andy has worked in Education for over 20 years, 16 of them in SEMH schools; as a Teacher, Senior Leader and Director of Specialism (PE & Sport). Andy has also worked on the ‘International Inspiration’ programme with the British Council in Ghana.
Andy believes in the power of education and care to overcome barriers to learning over time and enabling pupils to more confidently access opportunities beyond school; however and whenever they occur.

David Milner

Headteacher – Isaac Newton Primary School

David originally worked in sales for several years then made the decision to retrain as a Primary School Teacher through Nottingham Trent University.
Having taught for the past 18 years, David is fully committed to provide a high-quality education for all pupils that prepares them well for the next phase of their education. He always makes decisions with the children’s best interests in mind. His number one priority is for them to feel safe, happy and secure.

Josephine Smith

Headteacher – Kesteven & Sleaford High School

Jo has been a school leader for over 15 years in co-educational, single sex, comprehensive and selective schools. She and her team took KSHS to ‘Outstanding’ in every category last year and welcomes visitors to see the High School at work. She holds the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) and Executive Leadership (NPQEL) and believes passionately in the power of collaboration to build better futures for young people at any stage of their educational journey.  An English teacher by trade, Jo believes that giving students of all abilities the skills to communicate their ideas, knowledge and aspirations, leads to all-important self esteem. She is committed to helping students feel positive about both themselves and the contribution they can make to the world they live in.

Katie Brockington

Headteacher – Linchfield Academy

Katie has worked in primary education since 2002. She is passionate about inclusion for children and makes sure they learn through memorable first hand experiences. Katie uses her Leadership role to ensure that all staff and pupils across the Trust achieve their full potential, whatever that may be. 

Daley Barber-Allen

Headteacher – Newton Bridge Academy

For over 20 years, Daley has worked in the specialist education sector within schools and a further education college in Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland and West Yorkshire. He has worked as a senior leader in specialist education since 2013 and has been the headteacher of two different schools since 2019.
As a specialist school leader, Daley’s values are rooted in the belief that every child and young person can learn and achieve, whatever their abilities or circumstances may be. He is passionate about raising aspirations, changing perceptions and improving the future pathways of people with different abilities.

Heather Bide

Headteacher – Osbournby Primary School

Heather has 25 years of experience in primary education, working in large, mid and small primary schools in a variety of roles. She is passionate about ensuring that primary children leave school as resilient, kind, confident children who are well prepared for the next stage of their learning.  She wants all children to feel safe and happy at school and achieve their full potential.  Heather is as committed to the wellbeing of staff as she is of pupils and believes in empowering staff to help them achieve their best for the children in their care.

Kate Hodson

Headteacher – Poplar Farm School

Kate has 23 years experience in education with 14 of those years as a Headteacher. She is also a Local Leader of Education (LLE) and uses her wealth of experience to provide support to other schools.
Kate believes all primary aged children should be taught through first hand experiences, including outdoor learning and activities with international schools. She is passionate about opportunities and experiences for all children to enrich their learning. Kate enjoys planning new activities and resources for the children to enjoy.

Selina Ratchford

Headteacher – Spalding St Paul’s Primary School & Preschool

Selina has been teaching for two decades within primary education, being part of a Leadership Team as Deputy Head from 2012, and then Interim Head in 2020/21.
Selina is Headteacher at St Paul’s and believes passionately in delivering a hands on education to all children.

Tina Cox

Headteacher – Tulip Academy

Tina has been teaching for 20 years and has always had a passion for supporting vulnerable pupils, particularly those with SEND. Tina qualified as a SENDCO in 2010 and has been supporting schools, both as an SLE for Keystone and a Sector-Led Specialist for LEARN, for several years. As Headteacher, Tina rapidly improved her previous school, moving from Requires Improvement to Good with Outstanding Early Years provision within 3 years. Her commitment to creating a warm and welcoming community where families feel supported and pupils thrive was also recognised as Outstanding leadership in her most recent Catholic Schools Inspection. As a musician herself, Tina thoroughly enjoys supporting the creative aspects of school life, valuing the importance of those wider opportunities and enhanced experiences for all learners.

Matthew Page

Headteacher – Woodlands Academy

Matthew has previously worked as an Assistant Headteacher and Teacher in multiple specialist schools. He also ran his own sports coaching company and worked in professional football for Lincoln City, Huddersfield Town and Portsmouth as a Statistical Analyst.
Matthew holds the National Professional Qualification for Leading Teaching (NPQLT) and National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH).