Executive Team
Chris Steele
Primary Lead & Accounting Officer
Chris has been working in education since 2004. Following a career in secondary teaching, Chris transitioned into the primary sector before taking up his first headship in 2015. In 2017, Chris joined Fairfield Primary School as the Headteacher and now works as part of the executive team leading the development of the Learning for Life Trust with a focus on the Primary sector. Chris is also the Trust's Accounting officer.
Richard King
Secondary Lead
Richard has been working in Secondary School education for over 25 years. During this time he has led across a wide range of responsibilities, from data and timetabling to pastoral leadership and the development of teaching and learning. Richard took up his headship of Cockermouth School in 2022, following three years as Head of School, and now also works as part of the executive team leading and developing the Learning for Life Trust with a focus on the Secondary sector.
Michael Smillie
Chief Financial Officer
Michael has worked in public services for over 30 years in roles including Director of Finance and Director of Business Development. With many years of Board level leadership for Estates and Digital infrastructure projects and capital project Michael ensures that the Trust’s forward investment strategy as well as its ongoing financial performance is directed towards achieving the Trust’s core aims and objectives. With experience of large employer HR and Risk Management approaches Michael helps develop Trust policy in these areas so that continuous learning and wellbeing are core to how the Trust works. Having undertaken many mergers and acquisitions Michael ensures that the financial, HR and asset aspects of due diligence, transfers and post transfer integration are smooth for staff and that ongoing operational delivery is supported and continuously improved. As a Cumbrian himself Michael enjoys spending time getting to know schools and their communities well to ensure the Trust is supporting them as effectively as possible.
Trust Headteachers
Anna Bewsher
Broughton Primary School
Anna has worked in education and at Broughton Primary School since 2007, taking up headship at the school in 2019. In September 2022, the school successfully transitioned from being a Single Academy into the Learning for Life Multi-Academy Trust. Anna and the school team at Broughton are now working alongside Trust colleagues to support and develop all schools within the Trust.
Jordan Gale
Fairfield Primary School
Jordan’s award-winning career at Fairfield saw him progress from middle leadership, with responsibility for Maths and English, to the Key Stage leader before being promoted to the school’s Deputy Headteacher and most recently Acting Headteacher. His passion has always been to inspire the next generation and his ambition has always remained the same: to fulfil his dream of becoming a primary school Headteacher. No day is ever the same in this job, which makes it so thoroughly enjoyable: as far as he is concerned, there is no role more rewarding. His particular expertise lies with safeguarding, teaching and learning and supporting those from disadvantaged backgrounds. He is a research-led, informed leader always utilising the latest educational research and associated initiatives to ensure that Fairfield is continuously striving forwards and is on the ‘front foot’ educationally. As one of the youngest professionals in the country to undertake this role, he is very much looking forward to continuing his journey within a successful Trust, who truly believe in their pupils, families and staff and who strive to provide the very best opportunities for them.
Professionals
Carolyn Parker
Primary Finance Lead
Carolyn has been the School Business Manager at Fairfield since 2009, working across both Fairfield Infant and Fairfield Junior Schools prior to the amalgamation to Fairfield Primary School in 2013. Carolyn was responsible business element of the academisation and amalgamation of the two schools forming Fairfield Primary School and the Learning for Life Trust. In October 2014 Carolyn was awarded the title of Primary School Business Manager of the Year at the NASBM awards ceremony for her dedication to the profession. Carolyn supports the leadership and management of the school and brings a business perspective to decision making and strategic planning and advises the trust and local governing body on school business matters. Carolyn is a member of the Institute of School Business Leaders and the Cumbria Association of School Business Administration & Management. Carolyn has vast experience of managing the business element of schools as an academy and multi academy trust and has always strived to develop operations whilst meeting all of the requirements of the Academy Trust Handbook, ESFA standards and Government returns.
.jpg)
Tracey Barrientos
Governance Professional - Learning for Life Trust
Tracey was initially a staff governor for Fairfield Infants School and as a member of the Curriculum Committee she took on the role of clerk, liaising with the clerk to the Local Governing Body at the time. Following the amalgamation of the Infant and Junior schools, she stepped down from her role as staff governor. In October 2017, she was successful in securing the role of clerk to the Board of Trustees and the Local Governing Board, and more recently to the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee. Tracey now works closely with the Trust Board, Headteacher, LGB's within the Trust and all committee chairs to advise, organize and support meetings, ensure effective communication and sharing of information across committees, advise on compliance requirements in line with the Academy Trust Handbook, assist with recruitment and induction of new Trustees and Governors and identify training needs to ensure the Board can fulfill its core purposes of governance effectively. She has successfully completed the Development for Clerks course and is passionate about continuing to develop Governance practices across the Trust
Helen Rennie
Secondary Finance Lead
Helen qualified as an accountant over 25 years ago, and after working in practice and industry she started working in Education Finance in 2009. Having worked in both primary and secondary schools in Leicester her family relocated to Cumbria and since 2018 she has been the Finance Manager at Cockermouth School. Helen’s focus is to streamline the finance processes, switching the school to cashless systems and cloud based software. She enjoys being part of the local community both working and living in the town of Cockermouth.