Prof Mark Bailey was educated at Durham University, where he obtained a first-class degree in Economic History, then at the University of Cambridge, where he was awarded a  PhD in History. His academic career between 1986 and 1999 included Fellowships at two Cambridge colleges lecturing in Medieval History, and spells as an Admissions Tutor and Domus Bursar. He played rugby for Wasps and England between 1984 and 1990, captained Suffolk at cricket (1989-91), and was President of Cambridge University RUFC for eight years.

In 1999 he became Headmaster of Leeds Grammar School and in 2008 oversaw its merger with Leeds Girls’ High School. Between 2011 and 2020 he was the High Master of St Paul’s School in London, completing twenty years as a senior Head.

Mark was the 2018-19 James Ford Lecturer in British History at the University of Oxford and a Visiting Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford.  He is also the Professor of Later Medieval History at the University of East Anglia.