Governors

Governor Biographies

Chairman – Peter Holt Esq, FCA

Chief Operating Officer of an international insurance broking business with its Head Office in Leeds and additional offices in London, France, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong and the USA.

Pupil 1966 – 1971
Governor since 2001

Current membership of committees:
Chairman’s Committee
Education Committee
Finance Committee
House and General Purpose Committee
Policy Advisory Committee

Vice Chair - Peter Whiteley Esq, BSc, FCA

Former partner in international accounting firm and former professional cricketer. Now a freelance business advisor, helping businesses to grow. 

Pupil 1965 - 1972 
Governor since 2008

Current membership of committees
Chairman Finance Committee
House and General Purposes Committee
Chairman's Committee
Policy Advisory Committee

Moray Bisset Esq, MA

Former Head of the Junior School at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield. Previously: Chairman of ISIS North, Chairman of IAPS (North-East) and member of national committees for IAPS, HMC Junior Schools' and ISIS. Paper published by Cambridge Journal of Education.

Governor since 2007

Current membership of committees
Chairman Education Committee
Policy Advisory Committee
Chairman's Committee

David Ewart Esq, MA

Former Head of Barnard Castle School.  Team Inspector for ISI

Governor since 2010

Current membership of committees
Education Committee
Finance Committee
Liaison Governor

Jeremy Henderson Esq, LLB

Partner in the legal firm Lupton Fawcett

Pupil 1967-1974
Governor since 2007

Current membership of committees
Chairman Policy Advisory Committee
Chairman's Committee
Boarding Liaison Governor

Tim Key Esq

Head of two primary schools before becoming an HMI and working for Ofsted.

Governor since 2010

Current membership of committees
Education Committee

Peter Lee Esq

Owner and Chief Executive of Instil Ltd., long established providers of bespoke leadership and management training.

Parent 2001 - 2011
Governor since 2011

Current membership of committees
Policy Advisory Committee
Finance Committee

Richard Manby Esq

Director of Family Owned Business in the Conference and Exhibition Services Industry

Pupil 1967 – 1974
Parent 1990 – 2003
Governor since 1996 (Chairman 2004 - 2007)

Current membership of committees
Policy Advisory Committee
House & General Purposes Committee
Finance Committee
Ashville Trading

Mrs Maggie Matthews BSc

Works for a national firm of solicitors that advises public and third sector organisations . Former lecturer in Information Science at Leeds Polytechnic and information officer within both academic and scientific institutions. Carried out consultancy work for Harrogate Healthcare and served in various capacities for local and national charities. 

Governor since 2007

Current membership of committees
Education Committee
Liaison Governor

Miss Helen Priestnall MA

Current Deputy Headteacher at Lady Hastings' CE VA Primary School, previously Acting Deputy Head and Director of Studies at The Froebelian School.

Pupil 1991 - 1995
Governor since 2007

Current membership of committees
Education Committee
Policy Advisory Committee

Jamie Search Esq

Director of family owned business which is the market leader in supplying temporary facilities to the outdoor event industry.

Pupil 1977-1984
Parent 2002-2011
Governor since 2009

Current membership of committees
Deputy Chairman House and General Purposes Committee
Ashville Trading
Chairman's Committee

Colin Straw Esq, Dip. Arch, RIBA

Senior Partner of a long established private Architects practice in Leeds which he runs with his wife, and Architect partner, Paula.

Parent 2002 to 2009
Governor since 2001

Current membership of committees
Chairman House & General Purposes Committee
Finance Committee
Policy Advisary Committee
Chairman's Committee

David Whitehead Esq, MA, FCIH

Former Chief Executive of the Leeds & Yorkshire Housing Association, which managesand develops properties throughout Yorkshire. Director of the Methodist Independent Schools Trust and vice-chairman of the Eden Housing Association.  

Pupil – 1964 to 1970
Governor since 1999

Current membership of committees
Chairman’s Committee
Finance Committee
House and General Purpose Committee
Policy Advisory Committee
Chairman Ashville Trading

Ex-officio Governors

Chief Executive of the Methodist Independent Schools Trust - Graham Russell Esq, MA

Formerly a teacher with Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire Local Education Authorities.

Governor since 1998

Chairman of the Leeds District of the Methodist Church - Rev Liz Smith, B.A

Governor since 2007

Current membership of committees
Education Committee

The President of the Ashvillian Society - David Bulmer

Governor since 2010

Current membership of committees
House Committee
Finance Committee
Liaison Committee