The honour recognises Fiona Booth’s unwavering commitment to transforming the lives of children and families within the local community - work that has helped establish St Nicholas CE Primary Academy as one of the highest performing schools in Boston.

When Fiona joined the school in 2017, St Nicholas’ was facing significant challenges. At the time, the school had been rated Inadequate by Ofsted, pupil outcomes were well below national expectations, attendance levels were low, behaviour was challenging, and staff morale had reached an all-time low.

Since then, Fiona has led a remarkable transformation at the school.

Under her leadership, St Nicholas has become a thriving school community where inclusion, aspiration and opportunity sit at the heart of everything it does. The school was rated Good by Ofsted in 2023, received outstanding praise in its SIAMS inspection in 2025, and now achieves above national averages across all key measures.  

But beyond academic success, Fiona’s leadership has focused on something even greater - improving life chances for children and families.

Reflecting on the hard work and commitment of Fiona and her team, Gavin Booth, CEO at Infinity Academies Trust, said: “We needed someone to believe in the community’s potential and to be driven to provide the very best for them. 

“This wasn’t simply about education but improving the lives of families, making sure they felt safe and loved. Fiona and her amazing team have done just that.” 

As a result of this incredible transformation, St Nicholas CE Primary Academy has become a driving force for positive change both locally and nationally, championing inclusion and ensuring every child feels safe, valued and empowered to succeed.

This commitment has also been recognised through a number of national accolades. In 2024, the school achieved the Anti-Bullying Alliance Gold Award, while also being named among Edurio’s Top 10 schools nationally for staff survey results, receiving the Edurio Staff Workload Balance Award. 

Speaking about receiving the honour, Fiona said: “Receiving an MBE is a tremendous honour. I know it is a cliché, but this isn’t about me. What we have achieved as a school reflects the strength, support, and dedication of the incredible community around me.

This recognition belongs as much to them as it does to me, and I am proud to be part of St Nic’s and Infinity Academies.”