Landmark Trustees

 

Martin Beazor , Chair of Trustees

Martin has lived in Cambridge all his life and been involved in many organisations. After university he joined his family’s antique dealing business in which he is still active. He has been President of the Chamber of Commerce, member of the local Bank of England Advisory Panel and committee member of the Friends of Addenbrookes and the Friends of The Fitzwilliam. For ten years, he was a Member and Chair of the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee for the appointment of magistrates to the Cambridge and Ely benches. Martin was a governor of the Leys and St Faith’s Foundation for 12 years. He is a Blue Badge Guide for Cambridge.

Having family members who have benefitted from the individual attention a small, nurturing school can give and with his experience as a school governor, Martin was delighted to become a Trustee of Landmark after an inspiring visit to the school.

Rev Dr John Barrett,

Vice-Chair of Trustees

The Rev Dr John Barrett has a lifetime of experience in education, having worked as a teacher, school chaplain, and for 27 years as a Headteacher. This includes 14 years as Head of The Leys School in Cambridge and 6 years as the founding head of an international school in Singapore, where he established a strong reputation for leadership and educational innovation.

Educated at Culford School, Newcastle University, and Cambridge University, John Barrett’s career also includes experience as a college lecturer and teaching in both maintained and independent schools before he took on his headships.

Since retiring, Dr. Barrett has remained involved in education as a school governor and is currently the chair of an educational trust. Outside of his professional life, he is married to a former teacher and is a proud father of two children and grandfather of four grandchildren, enjoying family life and personal pursuits in his spare time.

Linda Dennis,

Chair of the Education Committee

Linda began her teaching career at the newly created Dorchester Middle School, becoming Head of Girls’ Games before moving to Nadder Middle School as Head of English. During her time in Tisbury, Linda was actively involved in a thriving amateur dramatic group and was the staff representative on the governing board. She was seconded by the local authority support non-English specialist teachers across Wiltshire for a day a week.

After starting a family, Linda moved to Cambridge and worked at St Faith’s for twenty-five years. During her time at St Faith's, she also became an ISI inspector.

Linda was then appointed Head of Ryde Junior School with Upper Chine on the Isle of Wight where she embraced the local culture including sailing and music. After an exhausting but fulfilling time Linda has now retired back to Cambridge. Before the pandemic she was an IAPS mentor for new Headteachers. Linda has been appointed to the University Constabulary.

Andrew Rand,

Chair of the Finance Committee

Andrew has lived in Cambridge for 25 years having formally trained and qualified in 1989 with Baker Tilly based in Bloomsbury London. A Chartered Accountant with over 30 years experience of helping both businesses and Charities keep both financially stable but at the same time reaching their goals.

He is a partner with a Mayfair based practice and manages two offices in Jesus Lane Cambridge and the village of Comberton.  Amongst other business interests, he is the Chairman of a small Insurance Company and holds several Directorships.  He has also previously been an auditor for an independent school in Cambridge.

Andrew’s two sons both attended local independent schools in and around Cambridge and he firmly believes they benefited enormously from the pastoral support that small independent schools can give, helping them to develop into well balanced individuals, which is why he was particularly interested in becoming a Trustee for the Landmark School.

Mark Dawes

After gaining a degree in mathematics from the University of Oxford (where he was organ scholar at Balliol College), Mark completed a PGCE in London and subsequently achieved a Master of Education degree from the University of Cambridge. His passion for both mathematics and education has shaped his career, which has been focused on fostering a love for learning among students.

Mark is an affiliated lecturer at the Faculty of Education at the University of Cambridge, where he has responsibility for the secondary mathematics PGCE course and supervises higher-level students. This role allows him to shape the next generation of mathematics teachers. Previously, he was the head of mathematics at Comberton Village College, a secondary school near Cambridge, where he continues to teach students ranging from Year 7 through to Year 13 further maths A-level students.

Outside of work, Mark enjoys running, particularly half-marathons, though he occasionally challenges himself with a full marathon. A church organist, he enjoys contributing to his local community in his spare time. Mark is also learning Spanish and recently took the GCSE exam—30 years after he last completed one! He lives near Cambridge with his wife and children, balancing his professional and personal life with a commitment to self-improvement and community involvement.

Richard Brent

Richard took up appointment as Bursar at St Faith’s in 2008 following a career in the British Army. His time in the Army included operational service abroad; his last posting was as Commanding Officer of 39 Engineer Regiment, then in Waterbeach. He was awarded the MBE for services in bomb disposal.

In his role as Bursar at St Faith’s, Richard is responsible for the support activities in the school. He has overseen a range of major projects and been involved in many of the recent developments at the school.

Richard has a range of interests outside of work including rugby, running and canoeing. His two sons were both educated at St Faith’s and latterly at The Leys.

Stuart Harris

After graduating from the Royal Agricultural University, Stuart moved to the Cambridge area and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 1992. His career has been marked by a strong commitment to the property sector, with much of his professional life spent as a Partner at Carter Jonas, where he headed the residential team in their Cambridge office. Stuart’s extensive experience in property and development has given him a strong understanding of both commercial and residential real estate markets.

In recent years, Stuart has shifted his focus towards an innovative area of care. He has dedicated much of his professional work to introducing a pioneering Dutch model for caring for individuals living with dementia to the UK. This work has been deeply fulfilling for him, as it combines his expertise in strategic planning with a strong personal interest in improving the lives of those with dementia.

Stuart has also given back to his local community, serving for four years as the elected Parent Governor at Long Road Sixth Form College, where he contributed to the governance and development of the institution.

Stuart resides in the Cambridge area with his wife, who has a background in teaching English as a foreign language. His interests are primarily focused on his family and all things sport-related, reflecting his active and engaged approach to both his professional and personal life.

Gill Owen

Gill is a retired primary school Headteacher who has lived in Cambridge for most of her life. After studying in London, Gill began her teaching career in a large multicultural infant school in Walthamstow, East London. On moving back to Cambridge she worked at two local primary schools, St Philips and Ridgefield before her appointment as Headteacher at Park Street, a small primary school in the centre of Cambridge. The school held the International award and Gill was fortunate to visit schools in Nairobi and Mauritius as part of a British Council partnership. She has mentored many student and newly qualified teachers. 

Gill has been involved in governance in maintained primary schools for over 30 years both as a staff and co-opted governor chairing both resources and curriculum committees. 

In recent years Gill has taken up running and is a member of Cambridge and Coleridge Athletics Club. She is proud to have run the London Marathon on several occasions (slowly) but is now more likely to be found running and volunteering at her local parkrun in the grounds of Fulbourn hospital. 

Gill is married and has two sons, one living with his family in New York and the other currently in Australia. She loves travelling to New York to see her Grandchildren.