Directors

 

The directors set the strategic direction for the MAT and are accountable to the Secretary of State for the performance of the schools within it. This is set out in a legal document known as the ‘funding agreement’. As charity trustees, they must also ensure that they are complying with charity law requirements. High calibre directors are appointed for their skills, knowledge or experience as needed by the Board.

The Trust Board of Directors has three core functions:

1          Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction

2          Holding the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to account for the educational performance of the Trust schools and their pupils, and the performance management of staff

3          Overseeing the financial performance of the schools and making sure its money is well spent

 

 The Directors of Great Oak Multi Academy Trust are:

Mrs Lilly Barker

Chiar of Directors

Mr Gary Benn

Mrs Sarah Mitchell

Executive Headteacher / CEO

Dr Wazz Mughal

Vice Chair

Mrs Kate Porch

 

Great Oak Multi Academy Trust Board of Directors 

September 2025 - August 2026

Name

Type

Office

Term

Date stepped down

Number of possible Full Directors’ Meetings

Number of Full Directors’ Meetings attended

Member of Audit and Risk Committee

Elizabeth Barker

Appointed by Members

Chair

16/11/2026

 

1

1

 

 

Gary Benn

 

Co-opted Director

 

10/09/2026

 

1

 1

Yes 

Sarah Mitchell

CEO

 

CEO

Executive Headteacher

Ex-Officio

 

1

1

 

Wassim Mughal

Appointed by Members

 

03/09/2027

 

1

 1

 Yes

Kate Porch

Appointed by Members

 

19/09/2027

 

1

 1

 

 

Ursula Lyons   Audit and Risk Committee Independent member
Samantha Wilks   Audit and Risk Committee Independent member
 

Alice Balchin

 

Clerk to the Directors

 

 

Great Oak Multi Academy Trust Board of Directors 

September 2024 - August 2025

Name

Type

Office

Term

Date stepped down

Number of possible Full Directors’ Meetings

Number of Full Directors’ Meetings attended

Member of Audit and Risk Committee

Elizabeth Barker

Appointed by Members

Chair

16/11/2026

 

5

 5

 

Catherine Blostone

Co-opted Director  

10/09/2028

04/01/2025  1  

 

Gary Benn

 

Foundation

 

31/08/2025

 

 2

Yes 

Paul Gray

Appointed by Trust

   10/02/2026  

 2

 Yes (Chair)

Sarah Mitchell

CEO

 

CEO

Executive Headteacher

Ex-Officio

 

5

5

 

Wassim Mughal

Appointed by Members

 

03/09/2027

 

5

 5

 Yes

Kate Porch

Appointed by Members

 

19/09/2027

 

 4

 

 

 

Ursula Lyons   Audit and Risk Committee Independent member
Samantha Wilks   Audit and Risk Committee Independent member
 

Alice Balchin

 

Clerk to the Directors

 

Great Oak Multi Academy Trust Board of Directors

September 2023 - August 2024

 

Name

Type

Office

Term

Date stepped down

Number of possible Full Directors’ Meetings

Number of Full Directors’ Meetings attended

Member of Audit and Risk Committee

Elizabeth Barker

Appointed by Members

Chair

16/11/2026

 

4

4

 

 

Gary Benn

 

Foundation

 

31/08/2025

 

4

3

Yes 

Paul Gray

Appointed by Trust

   10/02/2026  

4

3

 Yes (Chair)

Alison Meadows

Appointed by Trust   12/05/2025  31/08/2024

4

4

 

Sarah Mitchell

CEO

 

CEO

Executive Headteacher

Ex-Officio

 

4

4

 

Wassim Mughal

Appointed by Members

 

03/09/2027

 

4

4

 Yes

Kate Porch

Appointed by Members

 

19/09/2027

 

3

3

 

Andrew Taylor

Foundation

 

31/08/2025

05/09/2023

0

0

 

 

Ursula Lyons   Audit and Risk Committee Independent member
Samantha Wilks   Audit and Risk Committee Independent member
 

Tom Bennett

 

Clerk to the Directors

 

Great Oak Multi Academy Trust Board of Directors

September 2022 - August 2023

 

Name

Type

Office

Term

Date stepped down

Number of possible Full Directors’ Meetings

Number of Full Directors’ Meetings attended

Member of Audit and Risk Committee

 

Gary Benn

 

Foundation

 

31/08/2025

 

5

3

Yes 

Paul Gray

Appointed by Trust

   10/02/2026  

5

5

 Yes (Chair)

Alison Meadows

Appointed by Trust   12/05/2025  

5

4

 

Sarah Mitchell

CEO

 

CEO

Executive Headteacher

Ex-Officio

 

5

5

 

Andrew Taylor

Foundation

Chair

31/08/2025

 

5

4

 

Elizabeth Barker

Appointed by Trust

 

16/11/2026

 

4

3

 

John Saxon

Appointed by Trust

 

03/05/2027

 31/08/23

2

1

 

 

Ursula Lyons   Audit and Risk Committee Independent member
Samantha Wilks   Audit and Risk Committee Independent member
 

Tom Bennett

 

Clerk to the Directors

 

 

Great Oak Multi Academy Trust Board of Directors

September 2021 - August 2022

 

Name

Type

Office

Term

Date stepped down

Number of possible Full Directors’ Meetings

Number of Full Directors’ Meetings attended

Andrew Armour

Foundation

 

31/08/2025

 31/08/2022

5

3

 

Gary Benn

 

Foundation

 

31/08/2025

 

5

3

Melissa Challinor

Foundation

 

31/08/2025

 31/08/2022

5

4

Paul Gray

Appointed by Trust

   11/02/2022  

3

1

Alison Meadows

Appointed by Trust   12/05/2025  

5

5

Sarah Mitchell

CEO

 

CEO

Executive Headteacher

Ex-Officio

 

5

5

Andrew Taylor

Foundation

Chair

31/08/2025

 

5

5

Liam Tobin

Appointed by Trust

 

03/09/2023

 18/07/2022

5

4

 

Tom Bennett

 

Clerk to the Directors

 

 

Great Oak Multi Academy Trust Board of Directors

September 2020 - August 2021

  

Name

Type

Office

Term

Date stepped down

Number of possible Full Directors’ Meetings

Number of Full Directors’ Meetings attended

Andrew Armour

Foundation

 

31/08/2025

 

5

3

 

Gary Benn

 

Foundation

 

31/08/2025

 

5

4

Melissa Challinor

Foundation

 

31/08/2025

 

5

5

 

John Luke

 

Foundation

 

31/08/2021

 31/08/2021

5

3

Sarah Mitchell

CEO

 

CEO

Executive Headteacher

Ex-Officio

 

5

5

Andrew Taylor

Foundation

Chair

31/08/2025

 

5

4

Liam Tobin

Appointed by Trust

 

03/09/2023

 

5

4

Alison Meadows

Appointed by Trust

 

12/05/2025

   1

  

Tom Bennett

Clerk to the Directors

 

Great Oak Multi Academy Trust Board of Directors

September 2019 - August 2020

  

Name

Type

Office

Term

Date stepped down

Number of possible Full Directors’ Meetings

Number of Full Directors’ Meetings attended

Andrew Armour

Foundation

 

23/12/2020

 

4

4

 

Gary Benn

 

Foundation

 

23/12/2020

 

4

3

David Boatman

Foundation

Vice Chair

23/12/2020

 12/6/2020

3

3

Melissa Challinor

Foundation

 

23/12/2020

 

4

4

 

John Luke

 

Foundation

 

23/12/2020

 

4

3

Sarah Mitchell

CEO

 

CEO

Executive Headteacher

Ex-Officio

 

4

4

Andrew Taylor

Foundation

Chair

23/12/2020

 

4

4

Liam Tobin

Foundation

 

3/09/2023

 

4

4

  

Tom Bennett

Clerk to the Directors

 

  

Great Oak Multi Academy Trust Board of Directors

September 2018 - August 2019

  

Name

Type

Office

Term

Date stepped down

Number of possible Full Directors’ Meetings

Number of Full Directors’ Meetings attended

Andrew Armour

Foundation

 

23/12/2020

 

4

4

 

Gary Benn

 

Foundation

 

23/12/2020

 

4

3

David Boatman

Foundation

Vice Chair

23/12/2020

 

4

3

Melissa Challinor

Foundation

 

23/12/2020

 

4

3

 

John Luke

 

Foundation

 

23/12/2020

 

4

2

Sarah Mitchell

CEO

 

CEO

Executive Headteacher

Ex-Officio

 

4

4

Andrew Taylor

Foundation

Chair

23/12/2020

 

4

4

 

 

Tom Bennett

Clerk to the Directors

 

 

Great Oak Multi Academy Trust Board of Directors

September 2017 - August 2018

  

Name

Type

Office

Term

Date stepped down

Number of possible Full Directors’ Meetings

Number of Full Directors’ Meetings attended

Andrew Armour

Foundation

 

23/12/2020

 

5

5

Gary Benn

 

Foundation

 

23/12/2020

 

5

4

David Boatman

Foundation

Vice Chair

23/12/2020

 

5

4

Melissa Challinor

Foundation

 

23/12/2020

 

5

4

Joanna Grandfield

Foundation

 

23/12/2020

 11/09/2017

N/A

 

Lisa Jeremy

Foundation

 

23/12/2020

 16/05/2018

3

3

John Luke

 

Foundation

 

23/12/2020

 

5

3

Sarah Mitchell

CEO

 

CEO

Executive Headteacher

Ex-Officio

 

5

5

Andrew Taylor

Foundation

Chair

23/12/2020

 

5

5

 

 

Tom Bennett

Clerk to the Directors

 

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