Central Team
Meet the team:
Chief Executive Officer: Kim Earle 
Kim has over 30 years’ experience in secondary education and took over as CEO of the Achieve and Learn Trust in January 2024. She has the highest aspirations for all students across our Trust and a belief that all our children and young people deserve a sound educational springboard from which to leap into the most fulfilling next stages of their lives. These guiding principles inform all her work in securing school improvement through collaboration with and across schools. Kim has completed the ASCL Trust Executive Leaders Programme: a twelve-month course where she collaborated with CEOs and Trust Execs from over 20 other MATs.
Kim has been a senior leader in a range of large mixed ability settings across the north west, including 11-16 and 11-18 schools, an all-through 3-18 academy where the school was moved from Good to Outstanding in two years, and as Headteacher of an 11-18 academy graded Good in all areas. In all of these settings she has secured swift improvement at whole school level and supported students and staff in reaching their full potential.
Kim also has substantial experience as a school improvement consultant, working for seven years at Local Authority level across 25 secondary, primary and special schools to support Quality of Education and curriculum provision.
Kim has been part of two DfE Steering Groups, has written two Art education books for teachers of SEND and more able students, is formerly a Primary School Governor and Director of the Bluecoat Display Centre in Liverpool. She is an active volunteer for the One Day Project on the Wirral and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.
PA to the CEO: Judith Davenport
Judith has a degree in Management Studies and Spanish and is a highly skilled administrator with over 30 years’ experience across secondary education, higher education, recruitment and the manufacturing industry. Judith is committed to providing an excellent administrative service to support the Trust and its schools.
With over fifteen years’ experience as a school governor and Chair of Governors at a local infant school, Judith brings real insight into this element of her work.
Chief Finance Officer: Danielle Taylor
Danielle has over 20 years’ experience in the educational finance sector, having worked both at Local Authority and school level. Danielle was appointed as CFO for our Trust in 2012 and has led exemplary audit practice and internal assurance at the highest level ever since.
Danielle also led the Trafford Primary Schools financial management service for the local authority and once employed at Altrincham College, subsequently ran the Trafford Primary Financial Service for 25 primary schools in the borough.
Danielle is a SLE for Business and Finance and has supported other local secondary schools, refining systems, supporting schools in financial restructures and the restructures and the work of school business managers.
Finance Officers
We have a dedicated team of finance officers who bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to their role. Collectively, they have many years of school finance experience and prior to that, backgrounds in banking and accounting. Their work ensures that all schools in our Trust receive outstanding financial support.
Director of Education: Michael Scott 
Michael has over twenty years’ experience in education, not only as a teacher of Modern Languages and Performing Arts, but also as a Headteacher and Executive Head of an outstanding school.
During his career, Michael has also worked with the Department for Education as an Ambassador for Flexible Working and Teacher Recruitment & Retention and as Director of Education at another North West Multi-Academy Trust.
As well as coaching and supporting school leaders, Michael has particular strengths in quality assurance, Ofsted preparation, MIS usage, curriculum development and timetabling. Alongside his post at the Achieve and Learn Trust, Michael works as a serving schools inspector across both primary and secondary settings.
Director of Safeguarding & Attendance: Sharron Diffley 
Sharron is a highly experienced Director of Safeguarding and Attendance with over 30 years in education, having worked across a wide range of local authorities and school contexts. She has extensive expertise in safeguarding, attendance and school improvement, supporting schools to raise standards and ensure student welfare.
For over a decade, she has served as a Specialist Leader of Education, providing strategic guidance to school leaders in developing teams, delivering high quality training and succession planning. Her work is driven by a strong commitment to creating safe, inclusive environments where all children can thrive. Sharron is known for her clear, principled leadership and her deep understanding of safeguarding practice at both school and system level.
Sharron currently sits on Trafford Multiagency Partnership Executive representing the education sector in the Local Authority and is chairwoman of the Education Subgroup Committee.
Director of SEND: Nicola Owen 
With over 14 years of dedicated experience as a SENDCo across Manchester, Trafford, and Bolton, Nicola brings a wealth of expertise, strategic insight, and unwavering commitment to inclusive education to the role of Director of SEND.
Nicola is also Lead SENDCo with Trafford Local Authority, shaping and implementing robust quality assurance and moderation frameworks across the borough. Her leadership has strengthened consistency and excellence in SEND provision, ensuring that every child and young person receives the support they need to thrive.
A respected voice in the field, Nicola actively contributes to Trafford’s SEND panels, influencing policy and practice at a strategic level. Her collaborative approach and deep understanding of the local landscape make her a trusted partner for schools, families, and professionals alike.
As Director of SEND, Nicola is committed to driving forward a vision of inclusive, high-quality education for all—championing equity, empowering practitioners, and transforming outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Director of People: Alina Brekhova-Potts 
Alina has 20 years’ experience in management and human resources, working across the education, private and consultancy sectors. A CIPD Level 7 qualified HR professional, she leads strategic people functions across education, driving organisational development, workforce planning, employee engagement and the delivery of people strategies that support long-term organisational success. She has extensive experience in leading change, developing high-performing teams and embedding positive workplace cultures.
Throughout her career, Alina has worked closely with senior leaders, governors and stakeholders to deliver strategic HR initiatives, organisational improvement and people-focused solutions. She has also supported the development of future HR professionals through coaching, mentoring and the delivery of professional qualifications, helping individuals build strategic capability and achieve their career aspirations.
Passionate about developing people and enabling organisations to thrive, Alina is committed to creating inclusive, high-performing workplaces where individuals can reach their full potential and where people strategies are aligned to organisational vision and values.
Operations and Safety Management: Jake Ashcroft 
Jake is a Chartered Building Surveyor with 13 years' experience delivering surveying, design and project management services across the education and commercial sectors. He began his career in London undertaking condition surveys, schedules of dilapidations and party wall matters before specialising in education estate management and capital project delivery.
Over the past decade, Jake has worked extensively with schools and MATs, providing strategic estates advice and leading the delivery of refurbishment, alteration and new-build projects. He has acted as Principal Designer and Contract Administrator on a wide range of schemes, ensuring projects are delivered safely, compliantly and in accordance with programme and budget requirements.
Jake is highly experienced in the delivery of professional services to schools and academy trusts, including condition surveys, planned maintenance programmes, compliance reviews, capital investment projects and estate improvement works. He works closely with leadership teams and stakeholders to develop practical, cost-effective solutions that support educational objectives and maximise the value of estate assets.
Jake will provide strategic and operational support across the Trust's estate, helping to drive project delivery, asset management, compliance and long-term estate planning in line with DfE requirements.
Health and Safety Manager: Michelle Mainwaring 
Michelle is a highly qualified health and safety professional with over thirty years’ experience in her field. For over 20 years, she worked as an Inspector with the Health and Safety Executive.
Michelle also has extensive experience of the education sector, having worked for several universities as both a health and safety adviser and manager, most recently the University of Chester.
Michelle’s career has also included work in local authorities, advising and reviewing health and safety practices in both primary and secondary schools. She is committed to ensuring the safest learning environments for young people and staff and upholding the vision and values of AALT.
