Mike Adnitt
Chief Executive Officer
Mike is a strong believer that hard work pays off, and he has spent his career putting in the effort and dedication to support young people. Mike reflects on his early experiences starting out as a PE teacher; leading the Duke of Edinburgh Award Programme both in the UK and Costa Rica where expeditions saw them trekking through rainforests and up volcanoes; creating and implementing a sports curriculum as Head of PE back in North Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire; to taking on senior leadership roles where he has had over 15 years of experience.
Whilst working as both a Principal and Executive Headteacher, Mike has supported academies to improve the outcomes for young people and assisted in restructuring both their curriculum and staffing. He has also led and managed whole school capital build projects as well as growth plans for academies. To add to his portfolio, Mike is a Director on the Diocesan Board of Education and a SIAMS inspector.
As CEO, Mike describes his greatest responsibility as ensuring every child is provided the opportunities to flourish within a culture of care and support. He believes this will be achieved by being stronger together and building leadership capacity and trust so that leaders can run and manage their own schools, their way, for their community.
“As CEO for St Lawrence Academies Trust, I want to create and provide an environment where people feel part of something bigger. I want our partner schools to thrive, our staff to continue to develop and our children to flourish; and for us to collaborate and work hard together to make a difference to the community and world around us. I am looking forward to the continuation and growth of our unique Trust whilst still making sure we are best able to support our schools and provide high quality church education.”
Tony Wood
Chief Financial Officer
“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” C. S. Lewis
Following successful careers in the international shipping, FE and social housing sectors, Tony has worked as School Business Leader at various schools in North Lincolnshire. The opportunity to then be part of an exciting new challenge and journey of transformation, with the academisation of St Lawrence Academy, appealed to him; and for the last 13 years, Tony has been the Director of Resources at the academy, leading on many school improvement projects, including a £15 million Building Schools for the Future project, that focused on strategic financial planning to enable long term sustainability and improved outcomes for students. Tony also widened his experience, taking up a role on the governing body of a primary school and more recently on the Board of Directors of a MAT to help with the re-brokering of a school.
Tony embodies the SLA Trust value of integrity in his role as CFO, believing that it is fundamental to how the Trust operates to ensure that everything they do reinforces the support for their children and staff. He leads a strong team where members work together to set up and oversee robust systems and processes to build financially stable and resilient schools. The team’s aim is to provide clear financial information and advice to allow leaders to make informed decisions, again living and breathing the trust value of Integrity.
Tony looks forward to the expansion of the St Lawrence Academies Trust, citing: “There is always something different happening here at SLA Trust and it is energising to be part of this momentum.”
Jo Everitt
Deputy CEO
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela
Jo is driven to change the world of education to ensure all children enjoy school and are empowered with the skills and experiences to succeed beyond it. She joined St Lawrence Academies Trust in January 2023, bringing with her long standing expertise working in school improvement in both her own and other schools.
Jo has worked in education for over 20 years and for 12 of those years, she transformed three distinctly different primary schools and was recognised by Ofsted when they upgraded their rating from either Good to Outstanding or RI to Good. Jo has supported other schools across Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire as National Leader of Education, Diocesan Associate Advisor and Local Authority Associate Advisor. She continues to expand her roles by training to be a SIAMS inspector.
Jo was attracted to SLA Trust for its ethos, values and approach. She loves the Trust’s belief in wanting schools to be community driven and pupil centred as well as their trust in the professionalism of Headteachers. Her role within the Trust is varied and unique. As Deputy CEO, she is developing the school improvement offer and ensuring senior leaders receive both the support and challenge they need through purposeful partnerships. They will work collaboratively to reflect on their practice, share ideas between schools and learn what has been effective elsewhere; all with the aim of creating the best possible environment for the children and staff.
Jo is passionate about Church of England Schools and the experiences that they provide for children. Whilst believing all Christian values are integral to ensuring the Trust can best serve all of its partner schools, staff and children, integrity is a value close to her heart:
“Building strong relationships with the people we are working with is vital – we have to be open and honest and have conversations with integrity so that we can support our schools to be the best they possibly can be. We will be true to ourselves and act with respect, trust and accountability.”
