Policy & Scrutiny Committees

Our trust policy and scrutiny committees work to set the policy and strategic direction followed across the trust. They work to ensure compliance, monitor the progress across academies, and ensure that the values of the trust are reflected in all areas of its work. Details are set out in the Scheme of Delegation.

Below is more information on our current policy and scrutiny committees and other trust committees. Approved minutes of the trust board, AGMs and all policy and scrutiny committees are available to anyone who requests them. Please contact governance@meridiantrust.co.uk for approved minutes.

Committee

Audit & Risk Committee

Staff in attendance: Mark Woods (CEO, Trustee), Helen Anderson (COO), Sonja Greenwell (Internal Audit Officer)

Meeting 2026/27: 24th September 2026, 19th November 2026, 9th December 2026, 14th January 2027, 22nd April 2027, 24th June 2027


Meet the Committee

Robert Plumbly

Trustees

Meet Robert

Paul Phillipson

Trustees

Meet Paul

John Bridge, OBE

CEO Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce

Meet John

David Pope

Meet David

Jim Kennedy

Trustees

Jim has worked as an executive manager and HR Director for over 20 years in international companies. The organisations for…

Meet Jim

Committee

Curriculum & Standards Committee

Staff in attendance: Mary Abeyasekera (Executive Principal), Lesley Birch (Deputy CEO), Andrew Daly (Meridian Trust Executive Principal), Martin Campbell (Meridian Trust Executive Principal), Sarah Wilson (Meridian Trust Executive Principal), Richard Spencer (Meridian Trust Executive Principal)

Meetings 2025/26: 5th October 2026, 30th November 2026, 18th January 2027, 8th March 2027, 19th July 2027

Meet the Committee

Mike Griffiths

Trustees

Mike began his career in Secondary education as a teacher of Economics and Business Studies in West Yorkshire before taking…

Meet Mike

Judith Salter, CBE

Trustees

Judith’s expertise is in ensuring children and young people with special needs and disabilities and their families receive education and…

Meet Judith

Darren Woodward

Trustees

Darren began his teaching career 1994 in Hertfordshire working in Cuffley and Bishop’s Stortford before moving to Harlow in Essex…

Meet Darren

Prue Rayner

Academy Council Chairs

Prue gained a BEd (hons) in 1983 at the University of London, and after graduation followed a career path which led…

Meet Prue

Committee

Finance and Resources Committee

In attendance: Helen Anderson (COO), Jane Handy (Director of Finance), Amanda Cooper (Director of HR), Martin Hair (Director of Estates), Fran DiFranco (Director of Operations), Matthew Sampson (Director of IT)

Meeting date 2026/27: 21st September 2026, 23rd November 2026, 25th January 2027, 26th April 2027, 12th July 2027

Meet the Committee

Mark Bedlow

Trustees

Mark joined CMAT’s Board of Trustees in 2022, having previously served as an Independent Member of the Audit Committee since…

Meet Mark

David Ruddy

Members

David began his career as an apprentice mechanical engineer before spending more than 35 years in the motor and luxury…

Meet David

Elisabeth Every

Academy Council Chairs

Meet Elisabeth

Alan Hardy

Alan has a degree in Business Studies and was, until retirement, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants….

Meet Alan

Ian Herbert

Meet Ian

Committee

Remuneration Committee

Committee Members: TBC
In attendance: Mark Woods (CEO), Amanda Cooper (HR Director)

The Committee meets twice a year to review and approve senior leaders’ pay framework and pay awards and recommend for board approval CEO pay.

Meeting dates 2026/27: TBC November 2025, TBC March 2026

Meet the Committee

Mark Bedlow

Trustees

Mark joined CMAT’s Board of Trustees in 2022, having previously served as an Independent Member of the Audit Committee since…

Meet Mark

Paul Phillipson

Trustees

Meet Paul

Committee

Teaching School Hub Committee

Committee Members: Mark Woods (Chair), Jim Kennedy, Robert Plumbly, Judith Salter
In attendance: Lesley Birch (DCEO), Lynne Birch (Director of Teaching School Hub)

Mark Woods

Trustees

Mark has been Meridian Trust’s CEO since 2013, leading the Trust’s journey from two schools to 32 today. Prior to…

Meet Mark

Jim Kennedy

Trustees

Jim has worked as an executive manager and HR Director for over 20 years in international companies. The organisations for…

Meet Jim

Robert Plumbly

Trustees

Meet Robert

Judith Salter, CBE

Trustees

Judith’s expertise is in ensuring children and young people with special needs and disabilities and their families receive education and…

Meet Judith