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 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