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Our Headteachers

Rachel Bailey - Staniland Academy

Rachel has been a teacher for 22 years, with 13 of those as headteacher, and has worked for the Trust all her teaching career. 

She has taught in three Boston schools and in recent years has been recruited to support and develop two further schools, with a focus on rapid school improvement and providing stability for growth.

A former swimming coach, Rachel holds a Bachelor of Education degree in PE and Science, a Headship qualification, and has supported schools as a local leader in education. She has previously received a national 'Teacher of the Year' award, a nomination which was supported by a school governor and pupils. 

Educational Ethos: Rachel is committed to ensuring all children achieve, and have access to high quality education. She believes the root to success is creating strong relationships between school and family - promoting excellence for all. She says happy children that are listened to and respected will achieve and flourish. 

Favourite quote: "All different, equal, achieving and smiling."

Tom Baxter - Gosberton Academy

Tom has been a teacher at both Carlton Road Academy and Gosberton Academy, having started working within the Trust as a Teaching Assistant aged 18. He completed a Foundation Degree, followed by a degree to achieve Qualified Teacher Status, and is now in his fourth academic year as Headteacher of Gosberton Academy.

Tom has taught across all primary subject areas and year groups and has been Maths Lead, Key Stage 2 Lead, and a SLE (Specialist Leader of Education) through a Local Teaching School in Maths and Writing.

Tom is proud to have instilled a great team ethic in his staff, creating an environment where everybody pulls together, does their all for pupils, and loves coming to work – which transfers to the learners, making them feel wanted and able to showcase their abilities both in and out of the classroom.

Educational Ethos: "I want to be able to make a difference to people's lives, whether that be a member of staff, a learner, a parent or a member of the local community. I want to instil a belief that we always try our best and give our all in everything we do. I want to see smiles on people's faces - having fun and enjoying being part of a hardworking, committed and supportive team. "Never forget where you came from.""

Favourite Quote: “Be better today than you were yesterday, and be better tomorrow than you are today. If you improve by 1% every day, within a year you'll have improved by 365%. Where people aren't having fun, they seldom produce good work.”

Jo Bland - Boston Pioneers Academy

Jo has been a teacher for the past 22 years, specialising in science and maths - with 12 of those years as a headteacher.

She has had experience at a number of primary schools and has worked for our Trust for the past 17 years.

Jo is an Advanced Skills Teacher (AST), has a NPQH and is a Pupil Premium Reviewer. She was the youngest AST in the East of England and has received a number of awards in her career so far - including a distinction in the Primary Teacher of the Year awards and two TES awards. Jo also bid successfully to open Lincolnshire's first Free School.

Educational Ethos: "Inside each child is an innate sense of creativity and exploration that must not be allowed to be dormant. It is our job as educators of future generations to ignite within all pupils a passion for learning."

Favourite Quote: "All children deserve an excellent education, one which they will have fond memories of for the rest of their lives. Our learners only get one chance at education, so we are passionate about making every moment matter.”

Clare Coyle - Carlton Road Academy

Clare has taught for 17 years, having been a headteacher for 8 of those.

She left a career in business to train as a teacher in London, before relocating with her family to Lincolnshire a few years later.

Clare has worked in a range of schools, from those in multi-cultural inner city locations to rural villages. Starting as a fast track teacher, she has taught every year group from EYFS to Year 6, and held senior leadership posts in English and curriculum design, before taking assistant headship and deputy head roles.

Clare is passionate about reading, enhancing children’s vocabulary and promoting a love of literature. She is also a postgraduate-qualified Special Educational Needs coordinator and has a wealth of experience in working with children whose learning styles may be different to their classmates.

Educational Ethos: Clare is a believer in the principles of Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi, an early pioneer of educating the whole child - their “head, heart and hands”.

Favourite Quote: "Nothing is impossible, if you can just believe.” - Dolly Parton

Dr Craig Early - Fishtoft Academy and Wygate Park Academy

Craig has been a teacher for the past 14 years, with 5 of those as headteacher.

He has worked for our Trust for 5 years and has taught in a number of schools, teaching subjects across EYFS, through Years One to Three, and having roles which included Assistant Headteacher and Science Lead.

In 2016 Craig was awarded the Primary Science Teacher of the Year Award. He has worked with the BBC, the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Primary Science Teaching Trust. Craig has published resources on websites and in papers, is an active trainer of ITT teachers, and is a nominated panel judge for this year’s Royal Society of Chemistry Education Awards.

Craig is also an RSC Education Division Council member and Primary Science Teaching Trust College Fellow.

Educational Ethos: Fairness, honesty, transparency and strong values – both morally and ethically. “Do the right thing for staff and children.”

Favourite Quote: “Inspire, enthuse, lead from the front, leave no one behind, nothing is impossible.”

Vicki Hardwick - Old Leake Primary Academy

Vicki has been a Teacher for 19 years, with 7 of those as a Headteacher.

She has taught on the Lincolnshire coast for the entirety of her teaching career and has vast experience in inclusion, special educational needs, and behaviour. Vicki has worked in schools with a focus on rapid improvement and sustainability. 

A practicing foster carer, Vicki holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science and Linguistics as well as a PGCE, Special Educational Needs and Headship qualifications.

Vicki is passionate about achievement for all pupils and overcoming barriers. She believes in building strong working relationships between home and school, alongside developing community links, and is committed to ensuring children have access to quality education built on experience, relevance and achievement.

Educational Ethos: Happy children feel safe, respected and accepted and enjoy building learning environments that reflect these values.

Favourite quote: "Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom."

 

James Myhill-Johnson - Haven High Academy

James has been a teacher for eighteen years, with four of those as a Headteacher.

In 2005 he began his career in education, teaching history at Middlecott School, Kirton, before securing a middle leadership position as Head of Humanities at King Edward VI Humanities College, Spilsby. He spent twelve years there, working his way up to Principal.

James believes that being a highly visible and positive role model for all adults and students in the academy is a key attribute of an effective leader - and that clear communication of vision, values and expectations gives everyone the information they need to succeed individually.

Educational Ethos: An excellent education acts like a passport for young people to be able to choose the future they want. Maximising their future opportunities, whatever they may desire them to be, is the fundamental purpose of education. The acquisition of qualifications, knowledge, skills, and understanding can open a range of doors for students. The development of social and emotional skills, and an awareness and appreciation of cultures and experiences beyond their own, also enable them to become truly integrated partners in our diverse and inclusive world.

Favourite Quote: "I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” – Thomas Jefferson

Kris Radford - Park Academy

Kris has been a Teacher since 1998 and a Headteacher for 14 years. 

Prior to working at Park Academy, Kris began her Headteaching career in a small rural school before moving to a large coastal town. She has also worked as part of a leadership team in a large school in Peterborough.

Kris has taught in 5 schools and has worked with many others too – developing curriculum and/or supporting school leadership teams in meeting challenges, or developing their pupil provision.

She has mainly taught Early Years and Key Stage One as a class teacher, and across all age groups for subjects such as Music and Art.

Kris has a particular interest in developing learning for children with additional needs and has worked with children with a wide range of needs - both in schools and outside schools in community groups. She was a Local Leader of Education in Lincolnshire and spent many years as a Level 4 Philosophy for Children practitioner.

Kris has also led research projects in partnership with schools in Northumberland, exploring how children can be taught to think more deeply in their learning. She said she learnt a lot from these and is proud to build teams who work together with care, intelligence and compassion - and who respect each other and remember that children are at the heart of what they do. 

Kris loves learning and encourages people to find their own love of learning too. Her proudest achievement so far involved establishing a Forest School and outdoor learning curriculum for all children in her first Headship post.

Educational Ethos: Everyone is able to learn, no one should be ignored or undervalued, and every experience matters. Kindness and understanding are vital. "The value of 'respect' is an excellent word to sum up my ethos."

Favourite Quotes: "I am still learning." - Michelangelo, and "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." - Albert Einstein