Trustees

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.

 

 

Caroline Derbyshire

CEO

Caroline Derbyshire was first involved with Saffron Walden County High School as Deputy Headteacher (2000-2006). She left the school to become Principal of nearby Linton Village College, a role she enjoyed for ten years. In her decade at the helm the school achieved an Ofsted grading of ‘Outstanding’ on two occasions. Caroline took up the position of CEO of SAT in January 2016. She is a music lover, a keen theatre goer, a fan of cricket and tennis, and a trustee of Oakley Holiday Parties, a ‘not for profit’ organisation providing activity holidays for teenagers.

 

 

 

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 on-going 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 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 sits on the SAT Standards                                                       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 community governor at SWCHS. Linda sits on the SAT Finance Committee.

 

 

 

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 has served as a governor on the Local Governing Body of Alec Hunter Academy for over seven years.  Steve also chairs the Trust's Resources Committee.  He has two children who both attended Alec Hunter Academy.

 

 

 

 

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 where the youngest two are still pupils.

 

 

 

Patrick Philpott

Trustee

Patrick is the founder of Visionpath, an award-winning early careers and social mobility specialist that he started as a school-leaver in 2009.  His strongly held belief is that a young person's career potential should not be limited by their background and that improving the way employers can connect with young people of all backgrounds could be the answer to addressing inequalities in accessing skills, experience and career opportunities.  Patrick previously served as a trustee at another multi academy trust prior to joining SAT’s board of trustees in January 2023.  He is a member of the SAT Resources committee.

 

 

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 and sits on the Resources committee.