Executive

Hilary Moriarty, BA (Hons) MA PGCFE

BSA National Director

It is a great pleasure to be the National Director of the Boarding Schools' Association. I am very much enjoying the range and variety of conversations with colleagues in member schools and with the national organisations with which BSA has contact.

Since starting, I have been involved in meetings at the DCSF and with CSCI, and with a focus group examining public perceptions of both organisations. I also had the pleasure of addressing a large audience at the Heathfield St, Mary's Conference on 'The Boarding Community'.
I am delighted to see the number of applicants for the Association's training courses and conferences, which seem to be more popular than ever this year.

I look forward to meeting you should you be attending any of these, and to talking to you should you have occasion to call the office.
Meanwhile, I wish all members a happy, productive and successful year.

Alex Thomson OBE

BSA Director of Training

Alex Thomson read Geography at the University of Edinburgh before completing his PGCE at the University of Leeds.  After five years teaching Geography and Mathematics in schools in Wiltshire, he joined the Educational & Training Branch of the Army.  His twenty six years of service included roles as Director of Adult Education for the Army in Northern Ireland, Chief Examinations Officer for the Army’s Junior Officer Education and Training Scheme, Senior Educational Adviser to the Officer Selection Board in Westbury, and most recently, he was the Children’s Services Director for British Forces in Germany.

He is a traditional Army ‘schoolie’ having maintained his links with children’s education throughout his military career.  He served as the single military officer in the HQ of Service Children Education in Germany, where he was responsible for coordinating inspections, resourcing and SEN support, worked on the closure of Service schools in Berlin, and has acted as the Chair of a number of School Advisory Committees.  In his most recent appointment, he continued to develop his knowledge of children’s and adult education, and has represented the military on joint DCSF/OfSTED/LA/MOD committees concerned with the ECM agenda.

In addition to promoting education and training within the MOD, he has also practised what he preached as he has completed a Diploma in Education at the University of Wales, Cardiff, is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and a Member of the Institute for Learning.

Alex was made OBE in the 2009 New Year Honours List in recognition of his service to Armed Forces children and families in Germany.

Richard Harman, Chairman 2011-2012

Headmaster, Uppingham School 

 Richard Harman has been Headmaster of Uppingham School since September 2006. He was educated at The King’s School, Worcester, followed by Trinity College, Cambridge, where he read English. Having spent two years working for an academic publisher, he decided his real vocation was in teaching. After five years atMarlboroughCollegeteaching English and Drama, during which time he also completed his PGCE atExeterUniversity, he spent 12 years atEastbourneCollege. Progressing from Head of English to Housemaster of a Sixth Form girls’ house to member of the senior management team, he then became Headmaster of Aldenham in September 2000 and thence to Uppingham in 2006. He is married to Karin and has one daughter, Olivia. Richard is a keen follower and occasional practitioner of various sports and loves music and the theatre. In another life he would have been a director at the RSC, the National, or in theWest End. While he awaits that call, however, he is much enjoying the challenges at Uppingham and, for 2011-2012, of being Chairman of BSA.

Deputies Committee 2011/2012