How we are governed

Each of the Catholic Multi-Academy Trusts (CMATs) in the Diocese of Nottingham are single Trusts. Each is a legal entity and responsible for all of the academies within the Trust.

There are three layers to the governance and accountability structure in each CMAT: the Members, the Foundation Directors (The Board) and Local Governors in our Local Governing Bodies as illustrated in the structure chart below:

Our Members

Our Trust Board

Foundation Directors

Foundation Director NameAppointed byDate appointedTerm of Office
Sarah Noon (Chair)Patrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham Diocese01/09/20211
Reverend Deacon Richard Walsh (Vice Chair)Patrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham Diocese10/02/20201
Martin O’DowdPatrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham Diocese01/01/20221
Helena CarrazedoPatrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham Diocese01/09/20221
Margaret HydePatrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham Diocese01/09/20221
Jennifer LawesPatrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham Diocese01/09/20221
Clare McKenziePatrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham Diocese01/09/20221
Christopher MaherPatrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham Diocese01/09/20221
Paul MedcalfPatrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham Diocese01/09/20221
Nicholas O’BrienPatrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham Diocese01/09/20221
Keith WarhamPatrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham Diocese01/09/20221

Previous Directors who served in the last 12 months and are no longer in office:

Foundation DirectorAppointed byDate AppointedResigned
Keith WarhamPatrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham Diocese01/09/202209/10/2023

Meeting Attendance Records

NameAttendance 2021/2022Attendance 2020/2021Attendance 2019/2020
Sarah Noon (joined 01/09/2021)16/19n/an/a
Martin O’Dowd (joined 01/01/2022)10/10n/an/a
Jacqueline Rodden19/1926/2621/19
Richard Walsh19/1921/245/6
Peter Barnes19/1921/2119/21
Vickie Stevens23/2521/2421/21
Charles Archer7/132/3NA

The Committees of the Trust Board and Membership

The Articles of Association permit the establishing of Committees of the Trust Board of Directors and it is through these Committees that the Board fulfils a range of functions.

In each of the Catholic Multi Academy Trusts (CMATs) in the Diocese of Nottingham, the following Committees have been established:

  • Catholic Life
  • Curriculum and Standards
  • Audit, Risk and Governance
  • Finance and Estates
  • HR and Staffing
  • Pay and Performance

The Terms of Reference for each of these Committees for our St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust are published on our Trust website.

The Directors are appointed to sit on the Committees as noted in the table below:

CommitteeChairCommittee Members
Audit, Risk & GovernanceTo be appointedClare McKenzie, Sarah Noon, Martin O’Dowd, Rev Deacon Richard Walsh
Curriculum & StandardsTo be appointedHelena Carrezedo, Margaret Hyde, Clare McKenzie, Chris Maher, Sarah Noon, Nick O’Brien
Catholic LifeTo be appointedMargaret Hyde, Jennifer Lawes, Sarah Noon, Rev Deacon Richard Walsh
Finance & EstatesTo be appointedJennifer Lawes, Paul Medcalf, Sarah Noon, Martin O’Dowd
HR, Staffing, Pay & PerformanceTo be appointedHelena Carrezedo, Clare McKenzie, Sarah Noon, Nick O’Brien

The Terms of Reference for the Trust Board and Committees can be found here: