To begin at the beginning: I was born in Scotland, but moved to England when I was just four. A five year stay in Manchester began my life long interest in Manchester United.  I was educated at the Royal Grammar School, Lancaster where I was a boarder for seven years.  I read history at Keble College, Oxford, where I gained a first class honours degree and then completed a research degree in early modern English history.

My teaching career has been spent entirely in the independent sector.  I started at Manchester Grammar School, where I taught history & politics, ran football  teams and helped to coach the school’s 1st XI cricket team when Mike Atherton, the future England cricket captain, was a part of it.  After MGS, I was Head of History at Oakham School and then Head of Sixth Form at Newcastle–under–Lyme School.  In 1990, I was appointed Headmaster of Cheadle Hulme School, a large, co-educational, 4-19 school in the South Manchester conurbation.  After ten years there, I had my first experience of international education as Principal and Chief Executive of Jerudong International School in Brunei.  We returned to England in 2004 and since then I have been, successively, Head of St Christopher School, Letchworth, and Director of Studies at Haileybury, a large, co-educational, 11-18 boarding school, which offers both the IB and A levels in its Sixth Form.

Sport has always been one of my main interests.  At Oxford, I played some first class cricket in Oxford University’s 1st XI – in the same team as Imran Khan, Vic  Marks and Chris Tavaré, having earlier captained the Lancashire Under 19 XI in which Graeme Fowler played.  (All these names will have meaning to followers of cricket!)  I was an enthusiastic, if not quick enough, footballer and so played at no higher level than Keble College’s 1st XI, (once against Tony Blair who was playing for St John's).  I still run, albeit depressingly slowly now, to try to keep fit; it might be a little warm for that here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
 

History, politics and literature, particularly modern novels and poetry, are passions.  My interest in education remains undiminished, despite, or perhaps because of, my thirty years in the independent school world.  I read a lot about educational theory and practice.

I am married to Rhiannon, who is about to take up the post of Headmistress of Harrogate Ladies' College.  Together, we have four children.  Rachael, the eldest, is a doctor and married to another doctor.  Ian, who read geography at university, is currently contemplating becoming a teacher.  William will take his GCSE examinations next year, and Edward, who is autistic, is about to start secondary school.  All three boys, having been well brought up, are passionate Manchester United supporters.

It is too early for me to write about detailed plans for the British International School, Riyadh.  It is important that any development programme should emanate from processes of consultation and discussion within the school’s community.  It is clear that BISR is already a good school.  Its recovery from the events of 2003 demonstrates both its resilience and underlying strength.

My aim throughout my career has always been to ensure that the schools I have led serve their students’ interests as well as they possibly can.  The academic aspect of school life is most important, but it is also essential that BISR should offer its students a challenging and varied range of extra–curricular activities.  They have much to offer in the development of personality, team work & leadership skills, besides being enjoyable in themselves.  Academic work unlocks the door to the gardens of success; your personal characteristics and social skills will determine how far you will be able to enjoy what those gardens have to offer.

The British International School, Riyadh, has the potential to become the outstanding school in the Middle East.  It will be my and my colleagues’ aim to turn this aspiration into reality.