Active Learning Trust celebrates after winning a prestigious award

The MAT Excellence Awards are designed to recognise and celebrate the achievements and impact that multi academy trusts (MATs) have across the UK.

The awards highlight excellence across various areas of MAT work, such as leadership, innovation, SEND support and community engagement. The awards provide a platform for MATs to showcase their successes and share best practice.

From a shortlist of six candidates, Phil Beecher won the category for best Chief Finance Officer for his transformational work since joining the Active Learning Trust in 2023.

Phil has led change to deliver significant financial value for the trust, including securing £250K of extra income, introducing a new finance system, GAG pooling and making £150K of savings. He has also worked to deliver mentoring and design a new appraisal model.

Phil managed to do all this while also being interim CFO at another academy trust for part of the year.

The Active Learning Trust is an expanding trust which oversees 19 schools, eight in Cambridgeshire and 11 in Suffolk.

Commenting on his award, Phil Beecher said: “It is a special moment to win academy trust CFO of the year award.

“But the real story behind things like this is the alchemy that comes from working with a great team who all have wizard skills, including our trust’s Executive Leadership Team, my colleagues in finance and everyone else who's been part of the journey at The Active Learning Trust.”

Lynsey Holzer, CEO of the Active Learning Trust, said: “We are immensely proud of Phil as he wins this prestigious award.

"The hard work and dedication of Phil and his finance team have transformed systems across our trust, making a very positive difference to the lives of our students and our staff.”