Andrew Barton - See Trustees section

Edna Grimble

Edna is a founder member of the MEAAT and has a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the community.  She is a former committee member & Secretary for the St. Mary’s School Parents and Friends Association & has represented the PCC at the school’s Admissions Committee for the last 7 years. She is a former school secretary at Doddinghurst CofE Junior School & for many years fulfilled various administrative roles within the mental health services of the National Health Service in Grays & Brentwood.

Dean Moran 

Current Head Teacher of St Thomas of Canterbury CofE Primary School, Dean is in his second headship.  He has lead two schools to consistently achieve good, working with other schools in school improvement.  Dean is also trained in peer review.

Reverend Darren Barlow

Darren was ordained in 1998 after training at Ridley Hall, Cambridge. Prior to then he worked for a national training charity as a Training Consultant providing in house consultancy in leadership, team working and communication skills. He has served in the Parish of Rayleigh, the Billericay & Little Burstead Team Ministry as the vicar of St John’s Outwood Common and St Mary’s Little Burstead and as Team Rector of the Grays Thurrock Ministry.  In 2011 he was also appointed as Area Dean of Thurrock, a post that he continued to hold until his move to the Parish of Shenfield in January 2024. In 2015 Darren was made a Canon of Chelmsford Cathedral and continues to serve as a member of the College of Canons. 

Darren has previously been a Governor at six different South Essex schools and corporation member at a sixth form college.

Andrew Barton

Trustee (Finance Specialist) and Chair of Mid Essex Anglican Academy Trust

​Date of Appointment: ​March 2015 

​Term of Office: ​4 years to 21/04/2027

​Appointed by: ​Members

Relevant business and pecuniary interests: PCC Member/Trustee for St Mary's Parish Church, Shenfield

Born in Chelmsford, I attended KEGS going on to study Metallurgy at Imperial College, London. During my early business life, wishing to broaden my outlook and opportunities, I studied for my accounting qualification. The combination of science and business disciplines enabled me to follow a career managing businesses in Nigeria and South Africa, America, New Zealand, Australia and Britain. For the last few years I have been an 'at home' Dad to James, a former pupil at St Mary's school. My skills in the kitchen have developed and, as a counterbalance, I have re-discovered cycling.  Father also to two grown-up sons, I have three grandchildren, one at primary school, who all live in the West Country.  Since coming to live in Shenfield in 2000, I have been an active member of St Mary's Church and for several years a member of the PCC. This involvement led to my appointment as a PCC Foundation school governor in 2011.

David Bryant

​Trustee (Resources Specialist)

Date of Appointment: September 2021 (third term)

​Term of Office: ​4 years (third term) to 04/09/2025

​Appointed by: ​Members

Relevant business and pecuniary interests: Wife works in the office at Shenfield St. Mary's CofE Primary School

I was invited to be a PCC-appointed governor in 2013 at St Mary’s where both my sons attended, my youngest leaving in 2019 to attend St Martins and the eldest now at Nottingham University. I moved to the Trust board in 2018 and currently focus on premises matters. For most of my career I have worked in IT, specialising in the financial services sector and I hold a senior position at DXC Technology, a global IT services provider. I enjoy fishing, walking, badminton and football.

David Churchill

Trustee (Education Specialist)

​Date of Appointment: ​May 2020 (for third term)

​Term of Office: ​4 years (fourth term) to 31/03/2028

​Appointed by: Members

Relevant business and pecuniary interests: Director of The Kemnal Academy Trust (TKAT), Governor at Shenfield High School (from November 2019),Chair of Governors at Maldon Primary School (from December 2021) Wife Gill works for Ofsted.

With my wife Gill and son Oliver, we moved from South-East London to Essex in Summer 2011. Oliver enjoyed a fantastic seven years at St Mary's. I work for The Kemnal Academies Trust. TKAT looks after over 40 primary and secondary schools, and by learner numbers is one of the largest trusts nationally. I used to work for the Department of Education on a range of priorities (academies, school leadership, school funding). Before that, I was a languages teacher in schools in the UK and abroad.

Stephanie Hedley-Barnes

Trustee (Education Specialist)

Date of Appointment: December 2018

Term of Office: 4 years to 04/12/2026

Appointed by: Members

Relevant business and pecuniary interests: Teacher at The Bromfords School. Billericay Education Trust. Father is Anthony Hedley, Essex County. 

I became involved with Mountnessing C of E Primary School when our daughters attended the school. I now serve as both Governor and Vice Chair on the Local Board having previously Chaired this for 2 years. I have a range of experiences in education, Local Authorities and nationally that I hope will assist me in the new role of Trustee for the Mid Essex Anglican Academy Trust.

I am currently a Secondary School Teacher after retraining when my children were young. Over the last 18 years I have been an elected District Councillor and managed committees, delivered projects. I have also worked with families of children with life limiting conditions and a range of special educational needs. Specialised in areas of deprivation. Managed Lottery Funded Projects and advised Local Authorities Nationally on Government Policy including at the House of Commons and to release DfE Policy nationally.

Jennifer Whitwam 

​Trustee 

Date of Appointment: 04/07/2022

​Term of Office: ​4 years to 03/07/2026

​Appointed by: ​Members

Relevant business and pecuniary interests: None

I have practised as a solicitor since 1999, with a 5 year intermission as a Lecturer in Legal Practice in higher education. My current practice is a mixture of all types of litigation and dispute resolution, including: personal injury; commercial and property disputes; and consumer disputes.   My previous role was at a global Insurance Law Firm, defending employers and public liability personal injury claims. My particular specialism was historical abuse and safeguarding claims against charities and local authorities, such as the Scouts and Lambeth. 

As a parent of two daughters, I am passionate about state primary education.  Previously I was a parent governor for 4 years at Ingatestone Infants School, with a particular focus on safeguarding. 

Sally Taggart

Executive Head Teacher/CEO/Accounting Officer/Trustee

Relevant business and pecuniary interests: Husband is the Executive Head Teacher at Ingatestone Infants School and Ingatestone & Fryerning CEVA Junior School and is an Ofsted Inspector.

I am an experienced headteacher with NPQH and a qualified and formerly an Ofsted Inspector (team, East Region).  My previous experience includes school improvement of a school from satisfactory (identified by the LA as causing concern and at risk of inadequate upon inspection) to good consistently in challenging circumstances.  I have also led in a school within an ‘excellence cluster’. I am fully conversant with school improvement procedures and leading a highly effective team. I have mentored new headteachers and those requiring support. 

Pauline Drew 

​Trustee 

Date of Appointment: 23/01/2024

​Term of Office: ​4 years to 22/01/2028

​Appointed by: ​Members

Relevant business and pecuniary interests: None

I have lived in Brentwood since 1992. I am a retired teacher and have taught in primary and two special schools. I have worked as a Primary National Strategy Literacy Consultant and a Primary National Strategy Manager – managing and deploying teams of consultants to raise standards in primary schools.  I have also been a local authority Adviser for English, EAL, and SEND & Inclusion, and have been a Primary English Lecturer for a SCITT.

I have two grown up children and three lovely grandchildren.  I am a very keen gardener with an ongoing ambition to create a wildlife-friendly garden.