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Solent Academies Trust

Members

The Solent Academies Trust, in common with other academy groups, is a not-for-profit charity. We are formally constituted as a limited company, which requires us to have Members.

This is primarily a formal, rather than an active, role.

 

  • Mark Mitchell
    Member

    Mark Mitchell

  • Maria Dawes
    Member

    Maria Dawes

    Maria is passionate about education and how the collective power of partnership working in education can be the catalyst to deliver educational excellence and great outcomes for all children and young people.

    Her career in education started as a maths teacher in East Sussex and she has held a wide range of senior educational leadership positions in schools, university and other organisations including as one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors for Schools and as Deputy Regional Schools Commissioner in the South-East.

  • Adrian Neal
    Member

    Adrian Neal

    I am an experienced Chartered Surveyor having spent over 35 years in private practice. Latterly employed by an international consultancy. I specialise in property management primarily dealing with rural and heritage properties for a wide range of clients from landowning charities, institutional landowners, and private clients. I live near Winchester and have previously been a Governor of a primary school in Southampton with a significant SEND provision. I am currently a Governor of the Sparsholt College Group which caters for Further, Higher and Adult Education courses with campuses near Winchester and in Andover. I am also a Trustee of a well-known Hampshire tourist attraction and a Trustee of a property investment charity.

  • David Wyatt
    Member

    David Wyatt

    I worked in education finance for 33 years before retiring in August 2024. My final two roles, each spanning ten-years, are particularly relevant to Solent Academies Trust

    I worked for the RNIB as Head of Finance at a School and Children’s Home in Coventry. The establishment provided full-time care and education for young people with profound multiple disabilities. I actively participated in the lives of the young people as the 'official photographer,' capturing their celebrations and joining them on residential holidays. This was, without a doubt, the most personally and emotionally rewarding part of my 55-year career.

    My final role was as Chief Financial Officer for the Leicester-based Multi Academy Trust. During my ten-year tenure, the Trust grew from two schools to thirteen.

Appointment Details and Register of Interests

The appointment details and register of interest for our current Members as well as those Members who have served at any point over the last 12 months can be found in the pdf below.