Trust Members

Members have ultimate control of the Academy Trust because they can appoint and remove the Trustees and they can change the constitution. Though members have a very important role to play in overseeing the MAT, they will typically be less directly involved in the running of it than the Trustees and may only meet once a year.

Phil Barlow

• Elected Member – Braintree District Council
• Trustee – Witham, Braintree and Halstead Citizens Advice Bureau
• Twice Mayor of Witham
• Previous Chair of Governors at local secondary school
• Worked at board level in both public and private sector

Rod Lane

• Chair of Governors at Great Bradfords Infant and Nursery School
• Chair of Governors of Witham Joint Local Governing Body
• Member, Essex Schools Forum
• Member, School-led Improvement System Project Board
• Member, Early Years & Childcare Partnership Forum
• Member, Early Years Funding Formula Review Group
• Member, SEND Capital Investment Project Board
• Member, North Essex Children’s Partnership Board

Anthony Welch

• CEO, Premier Learning Trust
• Headteacher, Holland Park Primary School
• Executive Headteacher, Alton Park Junior School