Executive Team

Gavin Booth- Chief Executive Officer

I graduated from Bishop Grosseteste College in 2000 with a BA (Hons) and QTS. I hold the NPQH qualification and am a Local Leader of Education designated through a local Teaching School.  I am an experienced Headteacher, Executive Headteacher and CEO; I have spent over 15 years as a Senior Leader in a variety of primary schools, varying from small village primaries to larger urban junior schools.  I worked for the Local Authority leading on Education Strategy and support for schools experiencing difficulties. In this role, I liaised regularly with Governors, School Leaders, the Department for Education and Multi- Academy Trusts.  I have successfully led schools through Ofsted inspections and academy conversions.  I am a Member of the Learning Academy Partnership MAT, represent MAT's as part of the Kyra Teaching School Implementation Committee and am currently the Chair of Lincolnshire’s School Forum.

Paul K Ainsworth – Education Director

I am an experienced System Leader and Local Leader of Education. I have held roles in four Multi-Academy Trusts including Director of Performance and Standards, Regional Director (primary and secondary), Head of the Teaching School, Chair of Interim Executive Boards (primary and secondary school), Interim Executive Head and Advisor.  I have supported Headteachers and senior leaders of small rural primaries to large 11-18 urban secondary schools. I have worked intensively with those in an OFSTED category, have dipped in results or are in financial deficit.  I have extensive experience of OFSTED inspections, having supported schools through 25 inspections, including three schools which moved from Inadequate to Good.  I have strong facilitation skills through speaking at national conferences including a TEDx and leading a range of leadership programmes for Middle Leaders to Executive Heads including the NPQH through Ambition School Leadership.  I have wide knowledge of current educational issues; authored eight books acted as an ‘expert’ for Optimus Education, written regularly for a number of national publications and am a Founding Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching.

Jackie Hawkesworth – Finance & HR Director

My career began in banking where I worked in all areas connected to personal and commercial banking customers, in particular providing support with budgeting and debt management.  I have also worked in the Agricultural and Horticultural industries, identifying training needs, sourcing and organising appropriate courses and applying for and managing European Funding applications for these industries.  I joined St Thomas’ CE Primary in 2010 as the Finance Officer and took over the role of Bursar the following year. I completed the Certificate in School Business Management and became School Business Manager for St Thomas’ and Wyberton Primaries.  Whilst in this role I subsequently completed 3 years of study to gain the AAT Professional Diploma in Accounting.  On conversion to academy status I became the Finance & HR Director and am currently enrolled on the CIPFA Level 7 Certificate in School Financial and Operational Leadership.

Michelle Dales – Operations Director

I am an experienced operational support manager with a background in an educational setting and have supported the school business management functionality and continuity including; administration, finance and procurement, HR, operations, premises and estates management, data management, with an overview of health & safety and compliancy.  Having worked across many areas of the education sector means I have broad and balanced experience and have completed differing roles within these settings which include; General administrative and clerical support, PA Support to the SLT,  delivering workshops, supporting and developing the administration function, leading and managing support teams, latterly regionally supporting the back-office functionality of a large MAT to maximise and optimise support functions ensuring the needs of all stakeholders are met.

Trust Central Team

John Slater – Trust Teaching & Learning Lead

I graduated from Bishop Grosseteste University College in 2006 with a BA (Hons) in History and Education. I then completed a Primary PGCE in 2007. I am an experienced primary school teacher, Deputy Headteacher and SLE. In my 13 years of teaching, I have had the pleasure of working in a variety of different primary schools, which has enabled me to develop a wide skills-set and a passion and determination to ensure that all children have access to the best possible opportunities alongside high quality teaching. As a Deputy Headteacher and SLE, I have been regularly deployed by teaching schools and the Local Authority to support individual teachers and School Leaders who were experiencing challenges. Through listening to the experiences and the ideas of others as well as putting my own ideas and initiatives in place, I have developed a deeper understanding of when to lead and when to encourage others to lead. I have found this to be crucial in developing teacher and colleague confidence as well as being key in inspiring further developments.

Kate Rouse – School Improvement & Safeguarding Lead

I graduated as a teacher with a Bed (Hons) in Primary Education, from the University of Wolverhampton and have over 20 years’ experience in school leadership.  I have the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) and have recently been appointed as an Ofsted Inspector, with the remit to inspect across the primary and secondary sector.  I am an experienced headteacher, spending a large proportion of my career leading a large church primary and nursery school, before moving to a Local Authority role as a Consultant Headteacher, supporting leaders at all levels, across large city schools, infant and junior schools, small rural primary schools, and church schools. I have worked hard to maintain strong relationships and effective collaboration with a multitude of partners, including the Diocese of Lincoln, teaching school hubs and subject specialists.  Latterly, I held the interim position of Head of school standards for the Local Authority, which supported the delivery of the strategy for school improvement across all primary and secondary schools in Lincolnshire.

Shirley Jeffs – Governance & Communications Officer

After working in Banking and Financial Services, I joined a large school as PA to the Director of Operations and then Compliance Manager. During my 20+ years in the Education sector, I have developed wide-ranging skills and qualifications including Administration, Governance, Health & Safety, Operations, Premises/Estates and Transport. I am looking forward to working in the Central Team and sharing my skills and knowledge to assist all members of the Trust.

Audrey Martin – Trust Office Administrator

I started my working life at a local manufacturer in their Quality Assurance Department helping to set up their ISO Quality Assurance Standards.  When these were up and running successfully, I worked in various different roles there finally being responsible for the administration of the Importation of goods into the company from the Middle and Far East.  After 18 years in Industry, I took a total change in direction and I joined a local secondary school as a Teaching Assistant in their English Department.  This was a very enjoyable if challenging experience!  I moved from secondary to primary education after 18 months and spent a very busy 12 months with year 3.  The opportunity then arose to work in the primary SEND department as the administrator, which I proceeded to do for the next 5 years.  I am now excited to start my career at Infinity Academies Trust.

Academy Leaders

Gipsey Bridge Academy- Mr Andrew Clarke

Little Gonerby Academy- Mrs Helen Hilton

Pinchbeck East CE Primary Academy- Mr Andrew Raistrick

Spalding Primary Academy- Mr Andrew Raistrick

Spilsby Primary Academy- Mr Andrew Clarke

St Nicholas CE Primary Academy- Mrs Fiona Booth

St Thomas' CE Primary Academy- Miss Joanne Sharples

Wyberton Primary Academy- Ms Sarah Paul