Representing our members

Our membership is responsible for more than three-quarters of academies, and educates more than four million children. It includes mainstream and specialist provision, faith and secular schools, and academies in every part of the country. 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.

CST takes an agile approach to policy making. This takes several forms, including our regular member engagement meetings, policy working groups on specific topics, through our professional communities, and targeted, short-term consultations using roundtables, or direct consultation with members.

This is supplemented by our 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. Unlike in some organisations, the policy advisory group is not a decision-making body but a representative forum that can support CST in developing policy positions, particularly in relation to emerging policy ideas.

Many of these approaches are also used in the creation of our guidance documents, and gathering ideas for events and training.

Our policy advisory group is elected by CST members following nominations from school trusts. Membership is made up of two accounting officers and one executive leader from each Department for Education region, and two trustees and two specialist leaders from trusts nationally. Additional group members may be appointed by CST to ensure broad representation across demography, trust size, and expertise.

• Ash Ali, CEO, Every Child, Every Day 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 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
• Claire Moloney-Banks, Interim CEO, The Olympus Academy Trust
• 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, Trustee, Elliot Foundation
• 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

Our policy advisory group is elected by CST members following nominations from school trusts. Membership is made up of two accounting officers and one executive leader from each Department for Education region, and two trustees and two specialist leaders from trusts nationally. Additional group members may be appointed by CST to ensure broad representation across demography, trust size, and expertise.

• Alex Russell, Chief Executive, Bourne Education Trust
• Amy Daniels, Director of Inclusion, Cornwall Education Learning Trust
• Angelo Goduti, Chief Executive, East Anglian Schools Trust Ltd
• Anne Marie Mulkerins, Chief Executive, Middlesex Learning Trust
• Ash Ali, Chief Executive, Every Child, Every Day Academy Trust
• Carol Dewhurst OBE, Chief Executive, Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust
• Caroline Doherty, Head of Public Affairs, Ark Schools
• Catherine Lock, Director of Education, Grace Schools
• Chris Beard, Headteacher and Chief Executive, Lancaster Girls Grammar School
• Chris Wheatley OBE, Chief Executive, Flying High Trust
• Dave Barber, Director of Education, Ebor Academy Trust
• David Boyle CBE, Chief Executive, The Dunraven Educational Trust
• Dr Jennifer Blunden OBE, Chief Executive, Truro & Penwith Academy Trust
• Dr Rick Rhodes, Trust Executive Lead - Secondary, The Constellation Trust
• Edward Vitalis, Chief Executive, Invictus Education Trust
• Emily Verow, Chief Executive, Three Spires Trust
• Helen Abell, Chief Executive, The Park Federation Academy Trust
• Jo Slesser, Trust Chair, Community Inclusive Trust
• Julie Ricketts, CFOO, Northampton Primary Academy Trust
• Kimberley Earle, Chief Executive, Achieve and Learn Trust
• Leanne Bridgwood, Director of Primary, Windsor Academy Trust
• Louise Spellman, Chief Executive, Spark Education Trust
• Lucy Scott, Chief Executive, Eastern Learning Alliance
• Mark Lacey, Chief Executive, Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust
• Mary Curnock Cook CBE, Trustee, River Learning Trust
• Matt Snelson, Chief Executive, The Sir John Brunner Foundation
• Nicole Dempsey, Director of SEND and Safeguarding, Dixons Academies Trust
• Nimish Lad, Director Curriculum Development, Creative Education Trust
• Pete Weir, Chief Executive, Washwood Heath Multi Academy Trust
• Phil Harrison, Chief Executive, Manor Hall Academy Trust
• Rowena Hackwood, Chief Executive, Astrea Academy Trust
• Shareen Wilkinson, Chief Education Officer , LEO Academy Trust
• Simon Knight, Joint Headteacher, Frank Wise School
• Simon Oxenham, COO, Woodard Academies Trust
• Siobhan Meredith, Executive Director of Education, The Ted Wragg Multi Academy Trust
• Stuart Lock, Chief Executive, Advantage Schools
• Stuart McGhee, Chief Executive, Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust
• Tom Martell, Director of Strategy & Operations, Cumbria Education Trust
• Warren Carratt, Chief Executive, Nexus Multi Academy Trust
• Wayne Norrie OBE, Chief Executive, Greenwood Academies Trust
• Zoe Carr CBE, Chief Executive, WISE Academies