Board of Trustees
The Governing Body of a school is responsible for determining the aims and overall conduct of the school. In conjunction with the Senior Leadership, the Governing Body sets and reviews the policies, plans and procedures which are designed to ensure the best possible education for the present and future pupils of the school. The Chair of Trustees is Mr Ken James and the Vice Chair of Trustees is Miss Brenda Eason.
Chair of Trustees: Mr Ken James, LLB University of Leeds, PGCE Cambridge
Ken is Chair of Trustees and a member of the education committee. Following a 25-year career in teaching – including 5 years as head of Fyling Hall – Ken is now an education consultant and general manager of Letz Live, placing gap year students in schools around the world, including at Fyling Hall. He is also a governor of another independent school. Outside work, he enjoys the theatre, both visiting and performing.
Vice Chair of Trustees: Miss Brenda Easton, Dip Ed Durham University
Brenda is a former pupil of Fyling Hall, after which she studied teaching and undertook youth work in Byker. She then taught in Middlesbrough before moving back to Fyling Hall where she spent the rest of her working life. Brenda is passionately interested in the natural world and, with four pupils, made a film for the BBC on seashore ecology. Her other interests include golf.
Mr Michael Bayes, MA, University 0f Leeds, BA, PGCE – (Education)
Michael is now retired after 42 years in teaching. Following deputy headships in Essex and Milan, he spent 6 years as Head of Fyling Hall School from 1996 to 2002. He then moved to Spain to lead a British international school in Alicante and, latterly, Kensington School in Barcelona. Michael joined the trustees in 2007 and is member of the education committee. He is keen to promote international student exchange and is a past Chairman of Trustees of BUNAC Travel Ltd. He is also a committee member of the Boarding Schools Association, the North Yorkshire representative for the Independent Schools Association and an ISI team inspector. His wife Denise, a published author, also taught at Fyling Hall School. His leisure pursuits are dominated by travel, triathlons and Tottenham Hotspur!
Mr Mark Blackwell, BSc (Hons) Lancaster University
Mark has been a teacher since 2013 with an interest in educational research; he also provides teaching resources to other teachers and schools with over 200k resources downloaded worldwide. He is a contributing writer for the Geographical Association’s journal Teaching Geography. He attended Fyling Hall School from 1996 until 2001. In his spare time, he enjoys walking and climbing, spending time with his family and is a keen guitarist.
Mr Philip Burley, FCA – (Finance)
Philip was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2006. He spent 37 years in accountancy general practice in Whitby in a firm which still carries his name. He is a member of the Worcestershire County Cricket Club, a Birmingham City supporter and a Carlisle United season ticket holder.
Captain Edward Gaffney, MM – (Premises)
Ted served 37 years at sea, 24 of those as Captain. He then worked as a marine surveyor before joining Fyling Hall where he spent 14 happy years as Bursar. His hobbies include gardening, bowling, reading and sketching.
Mrs Helen Fox, BEd (Hons) Ripon & York St John
Helen is a Practice Manager in NHS Primary Care. She has a long-standing connection with Fyling Hall: her father was a pupil in the 1930s and both her children attended the school. She was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2009.
Mr John Jeakins, BA (Hons) University of Hull, QTS – (Health & Safety)
John has a long connection with Fyling Hall: he taught History here for many years and both his children attended the school. Now retired, he spent 33 years in teaching and 8 years as Inspector for the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) Centre Inspection Service. His interests include cycling and local history.
Mrs Rebecca Mansoor, BA (Hons), MRes Durham University – (Information & Technology)
Rebecca is a Service Manager at NHS England and has previous experience working in acute and mental health trusts. A former Fyling Hall student, she is now the school’s Information and Technology Governor and is a member of the marketing sub-committee. Her hobbies include rowing and playing the violin in local orchestras.
Chair of Trustees: Mr Ken James, LLB University of Leeds, PGCE Cambridge
Vice Chair of Trustees: Miss Brenda Easton, Dip Ed Durham University
Miss Caroline Spencer, BSc Open University, PGCE, NPQH – (Safeguarding)
Caroline is a retired head teacher and continues to carry out consultancy work with other headteachers and governors in primary schools. She is the school’s Safeguarding Governor and is also responsible for oversight of Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and primary. In her spare time, she enjoys playing golf, horse riding and supporting her football team.
The Chair of Trustees can be contacted on the following e-mail address: chairoftrustees@fylinghall.org and by post to Fyling Hall School, Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire, England, YO22 4QD.
Please note that all trustees can be contacted via the school office on the following e-mail address: office@fylinghall.org
Mr Michael Bayes, MA, University 0f Leeds, BA, PGCE – (Education)
Mr Mark Blackwell, BSc (Hons) Lancaster University
Mr Philip Burley, FCA – (Finance)
Mrs Helen Fox, BEd (Hons) Ripon & York St John
Captain Edward Gaffney, MM – (Premises)
Mr John Jeakins, BA (Hons) University of Hull, QTS – (Health & Safety)
Mrs Rebecca Mansoor, BA (Hons), MRes Durham University – (Information & Technology)
Miss Caroline Spencer, BSc Open University, PGCE, NPQH – (Safeguarding)
