Since our inception, we have adopted an agile approach to policy making. This takes several forms, including our regular member engagement meetings, agile policy working groups on specific topics, through our professional communities, and other ad-hoc engagement such as roundtables or direct consultation with members.
As we approach our sixth anniversary, we are proud to represent over 75% of all academies. We recognise the breadth of views amongst our member and strive to reflect this in our work with governments, civil servants, agencies, and other organisations.
In light of our continued growth, we think now is the right time to complement our existing engagement channels with a new policy advisory group – a standing forum of CST members elected by their peers.
The group’s primary role is to provide insight, advice and feedback on policy issues and challenges. This is different to our existing channels as it will be a standing forum rather than a ‘task-and-finish’ working group on a specific topic.
The new group does not replace or limit our existing agile approach, nor is it be a decision-making body; instead, we hope it will be a representative forum that can support CST in developing policy positions.
We are delighted to announce our policy advisory group members for 2024-2026:
- Ash Ali, CEO, Every Child, Every Day Academy Trust
- Dave Baker, CEO, The Olympus Academy Trust
- Dave Barber, Director of Education, Ebor Academy Trust
- Sarah Bennett, CEO, Inspiring Futures Through Learning
- Dr Jen Blunden OBE, CEO, Truro and Penwith Academy Trust
- David Boyle CBE, CEO, The Dunraven Educational Trust
- Mike Butler, CEO, The Education Village Academy Trust
- Sharon Carlyon, COO, Inclusive MAT
- Zoe Carr OBE, CEO, WISE Academies
- Warren Carratt, CEO, Nexus MAT
- Dr Herminder Channa OBE, Regional Director, Oasis Community Learning
- Dr Tim Coulson, CEO, Unity Schools Partnership
- Dr Nicola Crossley, CEO, Liberty Academy Trust Ltd.
- Mary Curnock Cook CBE, Trustee, River Learning Trust
- Nicole Dempsey, Director of SEND and Safeguarding, Dixons Academies Trust
- Caroline Doherty, Head of Public Affairs, Ark Schools
- Rowena Hackwood, CEO, Astrea Academy Trust
- Paul Kennedy, CEO, The Good Shepherd Trust
- Simon Knight, Joint Headteacher, Frank Wise School
- Nimish Lad, Head of Curriculum Development, Creative Education Trust
- Stuart Lock, CEO, Advantage Schools
- Tom Martell, Director of Strategic School Improvement, Cumbria Education Trust
- Stuart McGhee, CEO, Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust
- Matthew Meckin, CEO, The Rivers CofE Multi Academy Trust
- Rebecca Meredith, CEO, Transform Trust
- Siobhan Meredith, Executive Director of Education, The Ted Wragg MAT
- Annette Montague, Chief Education Officer, Greenwood Academies Trust
- Simon Oxenham, COO, Woodard Academies Trust
- Melanie Saunders, Head of School Performance, Inspiring Futures Through Learning
- Matt Snelson, CEO, The Sir John Brunner Foundation
- Dr Paul Van Walwyk, Director of Education, Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust
- Rama Venchard MBE, Chair of Trustees, London South East Academies Trust
- Emily Verow, CEO, Three Spires Trust
- Chris Wheatley, CEO, Flying High Trust
- Shareen Wilkinson, Executive Director of Education, LEO Academy Trust
- Professor Andrew Wren, CEO, South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust
Nominations were invited from school trusts, with elections for two accounting officers and one executive leader per Department for Education region, and two trustees and two SEND/AP leaders from trusts nationally. Additional group members may be appointed by CST to ensure broad representation across demography, trust size, and expertise.
