School Governors
Trevor Mulryne - chairman of the governors
Trevor was educated at Methodist College, Belfast, St John’s College, York, The Queen’s University, Belfast and The University of York. Having variously taught Physical Education and English as well as being Headteacher at Culford Junior School, he was, for fifteen years, The Master of St Olave's School, York (the junior school of St Peter's) until his retirement in August 2005.
Trevor was Chairman of District 8 of IAPS and Chairman of the first National Junior Schools Conference encompassing all Junior Schools in the independent sector which was held in Harrogate, March 2004.
Trevor enjoys sport in particular golf and walking, as well as reading, writing and travel. He is editor of ‘Tales to Tell’ a handbook for prep school Headteachers.
He is married with three children, two of whom are teachers.
Sarah Bates
Sarah was educated at Folkestone Grammar School for Girls and Warwick University. Following a degree in Chemistry & a year of travelling, she took up a position at ICI Paints based in Slough where she eventually specialised in marketing the Dulux brand as a senior product manager.
After relocating to Yorkshire due to her husband’s job, Sarah left her career to become a full-time mother to her four children, of whom one currently attends Moorlands. The eldest three also enjoyed their prep school education at Moorlands & now attend Leeds Grammar Senior School.
Val Snowden
Val was educated at Cramlington High School in Northumberland and the University of Leeds where she gained a Masters Degree in Education. She taught in primary schools prior to moving into adult and community education, becoming Head of the Jobs and Skills Service with Leeds City Council. Now a freelance Education, Training and Regeneration Consultant Val enjoys working across the public, private and voluntary sectors, alongside her role as a volunteer community mediator. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Institute of Leadership and Management.
Val and her husband David have a son, Thomas, who is an Old Moorlander.
Judy Hoffman
Educated at The Girls’ Grammar School in Bradford, Westfield College, University of London and the University of Leeds, Judy has worked in Higher Education for over 35 years.
She has recently retired from her post as Senior Lecturer in Mathematics and Media at Trinity and All Saints, an Accredited College of the University of Leeds, but is still involved on a part-time basis in the training of Mathematics teachers at the College.
Moray Bissett
Educated at George Heriot's School, Edinburgh and at the Universities of Starthclyde and York. Moray was the Headmaster of Queen Elizabeth Grammar Junior School in Wakefield from 1982 until his recent retirement. He was Chairman of IAPS No 8 District, a member of IAPS Council and Chairman of ISIS North. In 2005 he had a paper published by the Cambridge Journal of Education. Moray joined as a Governor of Moorlands in January 2007. Moray brings a much valued educational experience to the board of Governors.
Martin Hicks
Martin Hicks is Managing Director of Weetwood Hall and is a non executive director for the Longhirst Group of Companies which has a chain of residential training centres and a training consultancy. Appointed to Moorlands' Governing Body in January 2007, he brings with him a strong mix of operational and commercial knowledge. He is a member of PACE, HCIMA and the Institute of Directors.
David Strachan
Educated at Pocklington School and St Catharine's College, Cambridge University, David is a partner at solicitors' firm Schofield Sweeney LLP, specialising in corporate law.
David is also a governor of Sedbergh School, and a member of the Institute of Directors. He is a past chairman of Leeds Cares.
David and his wife Belinda have six sons, all of whom attended Moorlands from age four.
David's interests are all sports (especially rugby union and tennis), fell walking and modern history.
Allison Cook
Educated at St Mary's High School in Blackpool and then the University of Leeds, Allison subsequently qualified as a chartered accountant in 1989.She immediately moved into industry where she has held a number of management positions in prominent West Yorkshire businesses and is currently working as an interim consultant via her recently formed company.
Allison has been an active member of the MSA for the last 4 years and currently holds the treasurers position, she also helps run a not for profit swimming club which enables children including those with social or learning difficulties to develop their water skills.
Allison is married to Peter and has two children both of whom attend Moorlands School.
Bob Lewis
Bob Lewis is an old boy of Moorlands School. He is a Chartered Accountant, a non executive director of Invocas Group plc and the former national managing partner of Haines Watts Chartered Accountants. Bob is an active member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Leeds also a trustee of the West Yorkshire Police Community Trust.
Peter McGurk
Peter was educated at Cardinal Allen G.S in Liverpool leaving the 6th Form to join Allied Irish Bank in 1979.
He has worked with the Bank in Liverpool, Birmingham, Cardiff and was appointed a manager in Leeds in 2001, specialising in relationship management with an emphasis on attracting new deposit customers to the Bank over the last 2 years.
Peter became a Govenrors at moorlands School in 2010.
Dr Syd Donald
Educated at Morgan Academy, Dundee, and the Universities of St Andrews, Würzburg and Freiburg im Breisgau, Syd began his career teaching English at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg before moving to the University of Leeds, where he lectured in German language and literature until his retirement in 2007. Now a Life Fellow, he maintains his links with Leeds University as a member of Court.
Syd has extensive experience of university admissions, external relations, career planning and pastoral care. Two particular interests outside his academic discipline are web design and study skills, and he is co-author of Study Skills for Modern Language Students: A Practical Guide (2001). He has acted as consultant for a number of organisations, including the British Council.
Two of Syd’s grandchildren have attended Moorlands School since Kindergarten.
Ian Worthington
A First Class Honours History graduate of London University, Ian qualified as a solicitor in 1982. Since that time, he has worked as a specialist in corporate finance and commercial law, both in the City of London and as a partner in large provincial practices in Ipswich, Nottingham and Leeds.
In 2007 he formed his own niche commercial law practice, Worthington Law, which is now based at Newby Hall.
Ian is married to Amanda and has three children, Harriet, Charlie and Bertie. He enjoyed a ten year association with the School through his sons. He is a keen touchline rugby fan, with other interests including politics, crime novels, photography and Stoke City.
