David Barrs

Chair

 David started his career at Wicken House, Wicken Bonhunt and then SWCHS back in 1980.  He went on to teach in Basildon and at the Anglo European School, a co-educational 11-19 comprehensive school near Chelmsford, where he was Headteacher for 17 years before his retirement after 43 years teaching in 2021.  David is chairman of both Saffron Walden Cricket Club and the Yellow Car Charitable Trust, and a trustee of Saffron Hall Trust. He continues to support the International Baccalaureate,  which has had a significant influence on his career.  He has lived in Saffron Walden for over 40 years and has two children, both of whom attended Saffron Walden County High School. David enjoys cricket, golf, writing and travelling.

 

Mark Guest

CEO

Mark Guest joined Saffron Academy Trust as its CEO in September 2025.  He was previously Headteacher of a heavily over-subscribed 11-18 secondary school in Lincolnshire for sixteen years and the CEO of a cross-phase multi-academy trust for seven years.  His career has also included a range of teaching and school leadership positions in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, working within schools in a range of contexts.  He has been a governor in his local Junior school for almost a decade.  Having started his career as an English teacher, he has a passion for literature and theatre, but also enjoys music and travel, alongside being a season ticket holder for Aston Villa Football Club.

 

Sarah Dignasse

Trustee, and Chair of SWCHS’s LGB

Sarah is a former Essex secondary Headteacher who remains involved in educational improvement initiatives through her ongoing work with schools in both Essex and Newham. She has extensive experience of curriculum development through her work with the Uttlesford schools, aiming to ensure that the educational needs of all young people are met. She has served as an Interim Executive Board member with schools facing challenging circumstances and is chair of the management committee of an Adolescent Psychiatric Unit. Sarah also chairs Families In Focus (Essex),

a local charity which supports families who have a child with Special Education Needs or Disabilities. She chairs of the SAT Teaching School Hub Committee.

 

Linda Vincent

Trustee

Linda’s professional life has mainly been in banking, both in the City and abroad. She has a degree in Modern Germanic Languages. Following a career break, Linda works at a secondary academy school in North Essex providing pastoral support. Linda has been a governor at a nursery school, at one of SWCHS’s feeder primary schools, and is currently a governor at SWCHS.

 

 

Steven Bancroft

Trustee

Steve is a Senior Project Manager with over 28 years' experience in Industry.  He holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Engineering as well as an MBA. Steve served as a governor on the Local Governing Body of Alec Hunter Academy for over seven years.  He has two children who both attended Alec Hunter Academy.  Steve is Vice-Chair of SAT's Board of Trustees.

 

 

 

Jane Marshall

Trustee

Jane is a Consultant Statistical Programmer working on clinical trials in the pharmaceutical industry. Her background is in maths, statistics and programming. Jane previously chaired the Local Governing Body at RAB schools. Jane has lived in Saffron Walden for more than 20 years. She has four children, all of whom have attended RAB and SWCHS.

 

 

Matt Clare

Trustee

Matt is a founding Partner of Trident, which provides building surveying and project-related services.  He has extensive experience of contract administration and project management on a variety of properties across England and Wales, including central London offices, regional shopping centres, retail parks and leisure parks.  Matt’s range of specialist skills includes: building inspections, maintaining, refurbishing and extending properties, building reinstatement cost assessments and defect analysis.  Matt is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and has served on a number of its committees.  He holds a degree in Building Surveying.  Matt joined SAT’s board in September 2023.

 

Robin Newman

Trustee

Robin is currently the Principal at Haileybury Turnford School, an 11-18 secondary academy in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire.  Under Robin’s leadership, the school was rated Good by Ofsted in 2022 for the first time in its history.  In a career spanning more than 25 years, he has held a number of leadership posts at schools in Essex, including Saffron Walden County High School, King Edward VI Grammar School in Chelmsford and Notley High School & Braintree Sixth Form.  Robin is also a keen runner, and has participated in many events, including Half Marathons and the London Marathon.