Members

Chair of Governors

Mr Malcolm Dawson, OBE

Malcolm was a civil servant for over thirty years, which included appointments in the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Justice and as Chief Executive of HM Land Registry and then of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.  Since retiring from the civil service in 2014 and moving back to Yorkshire, he has run his own consulting business.  He has combined this with being Chair of Governors at Boroughbridge High School, where he has been a governor since November 2014. He lives in Bewerley, where he is a parish councillor, and enjoys golf, walking and music.  He is married with one son at university in Swansea.

If you need to contact the chair please contact: chair@gps.hlt.academy

Hope Trust Staff

Mrs Helen Dowds – Executive Principal

Ms Emma Robins – Principal Graham School

Mrs Lesley Welsh – Principal George Pindar School

LGC Members

Mr Brian Crosby – Hope Learning Trust CEO

Brian Crosby is Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of Hope Learning Trust.

Brian started his career as a science teacher at Selby High School and became Head of Science at Archbishop Holgate’s School in York before promotion to Assistant Headteacher in charge of Curriculum. He was appointed Headteacher of Manor CE School in 2002 before moving to become Chief Executive of Hope Learning Trust in 2016. Brian is a National Leader of Education and Manor CE Academy is a National Support School and achieved Teaching School status in 2012. Brian has worked closely with the National College for Teaching and Leadership and the National Society of the Church of England.

Mr Marcus Towse

In most of my professional life I have been a teacher, mainly of Physics, but also Philosophy. Many years ago I spent a few years in the computing industry working as a programmer and systems analyst, but decided that teaching and education were the place I wanted to be. Having worked in several Colleges, I returned to Scarborough Sixth Form College in 2007 , and became Principal last year. I am determined to do what I can to help Graham School become the best it can be for the community it serves.

Mr Gerry Swain

I grew up and was educated in Scarborough and attended Leeds University. I taught English and Drama in Yorkshire schools for about 20 years and was a local authority adviser / inspector in Barnsley and Gloucestershire. For the last ten years of my work, I was regional and then national director for English in the National Strategies and I retired in 2011. We moved back to Scarborough to live in 2017. I work with various school improvement projects voluntarily and am dedicated to supporting Graham School in its efforts to become a great school.

Mr Richard Benstead – Vice Chair

Richard Benstead is currently Programme Director for the North Yorkshire Coast Opportunity Area Programme. This Department of Education funded programme will invest in the area and address existing barriers to social mobility.

Previously, Richard was Head of Youth Policy at the Cabinet Office and Dept for Culture, Media and Sport, as well as a management consultant at KPMG. In this role at KPMG, he led a range of projects and programmes in central and local government and the NHS.