Darren began his teaching career 1994 in Hertfordshire working in Cuffley and Bishop’s Stortford before moving to Harlow in Essex in 1999. He moved back to Thorn Grove Primary in Bishop’s Stortford as Deputy Headteacher in 2001 before moving to Kedington in Suffolk as Headteacher in 2006. Through 2 successful Ofsted inspections including an Outstanding judgement in 2011, he began outreach work for Suffolk LA with other schools as a Local Leader in Education.
Darren was appointed as Director of Primary Education for the Samuel Ward Academy Trust in January 2015, at that point a Trust of seven schools including three primary schools. Since then the Trust has grown in size and reputation, changing its name to Unity Schools Partnership. USP currently has 40 schools. Until Autumn 2025, Darren was Executive Director of Primary Education, overseeing 26 primary schools with the primary team. Darren is now semi-retired, finding time for genealogy, woodwork, and volunteering at a foodbank run by Reach in Haverhill.