Meet the Durham School Staff

Mr E M George, BA (Manchester), MBA

Headmaster, History Teacher

Mr George took up his post as Headmaster in April 2009. Mr George was educated at Durham School and Manchester University where he studied Politics and Modern History, graduating in 1984. After ten years' service in the British Army, Mr George spent the next ten years teaching at Newcastle-under-Lyme School, during which time he was appionted Director of Studies and also gained an MBA in Education Administration. In 2004 he moved to the King's School, Tynemouth as Deputy Headmaster with special responsibility for pastoral issues. Mr George knows the North East very well and, as a former pupil of the School, has a real affection for Durham School and a strong sense of its traditions.

Mr J M Webb MA, PGCE

Deputy Head

Mr Jonathan Webb was educated at Batley Grammar School in West Yorkshire and Christ's College, Cambridge University, where he gained an honours degree in History. He started his teaching career at Giggleswick School and The Manchester Grammar School. Prior to taking up his post at Durham School he taught for 9 years at Pocklington School in East Yorkshire, first as Head of History department and then as Director of Teaching and Learning.

Mr MJ Bushnell, BSc (Swansea); PGCE

Deputy Head (Pastoral)

Mr. Bushnell gained his BSc (Hons) at Swansea University. After a year working for the Bank of England he took time out to do a PGCE at Manchester University. His first appointment was at Hartlepool Sixth Form College where he taught for two years before joining Durham School as a teacher of Economics in September 1990. From 1993 until 1997 he was Housemaster of Ferens House (11-13) and from 1997 until 2009 Housemaster of Poole House. He was appointed as Head of Boarding in September 2009 and to Deputy Head (Pastoral) in July 2012.

Mrs Debbie Leigh, BA, FCA

Bursar

Mrs Leigh was appointed Bursar in June 2012. She was educated in Sheffield and has an honours degree in economics from Leeds. Mrs Leigh is a Chartered Accountant. She trained and gained post qualification experience with KPMG before joining Darlington College as Finance Director in 1992.

Dr JM Burns, BA (Dunelm), PhD

Head of Boarding

Born in Northern Ireland, Dr Burns was a pupil at the Methodist College, Belfast. Having taken her first degree in French and Spanish at Durham University, she taught for three years at the University's School for Modern Languages and Cultures and completed her doctorate in 2006. Dr Burns took up her post as French and Spanish teacher at Durham School in September 2005. She was appointed as Junior Housemistress of Pimlico House in September 2007 and as Senior Housemistress between September 2008 - July 2012. Dr Burns was appointed Head of Boarding in July 2012.

Mr HS Dias, BA (Ulster), PGCE (Oxon)

Senior Master, Feeder School Liaison Officer, English

Mr Hugh Dias gained his BA in English at Ulster University and his PGCE at Christ Church, Oxford. Prior to joining the English department at Durham School in 1986, he had previously taught at The King`s School, Tynemouth, the Vienna International School and the Kuwait English School. Mr Dias was Housemaster of School House from 1987 until 2003 and President of The Common Room from 1989 until 2004. He was a Governor of Austin Friars School in Carlisle from 1996 until 20004 and is currently a member of the Governing Body of Newcastle Prep School. Apart from his English teaching, Mr Dias is involved in the coaching of a variety of rugby and cricket teams and in writng and producing Drama productions. Mr Dias is also co-author with photographer Philip Nixon of a book entitled "Exploring Solway Firth History".

Mr P C Gerrard, BEd Hons (Carnegie)

Director of Sixth Form Studies, Head of PE

Mr. Gerrard was educated at Wirral Grammar School and Carnegie College. He has played representative rugby for Cheshire at U16, U18, U21 and senior levels (Rugby Union) and, as a student, for England Polytechnics (Rugby League). After teaching posts at Dulwich College, Sandbach School and Gosforth High School, he joined Durham School as Director of Sport in 1996. He is now Head of academic Physical Education and was appointed Director Sixth Form Studies in September 2006. In addition to his duties here, he coaches the North of England Under 18 rugby and Newcastle Falcons U18 teams.

Mr R A Muttitt, MA (Dunelm), BMus (Hull), ARCO, FRSA

Director of Scholars, Head of Music

Born and educated in Shropshire, Mr. Muttitt won a scholarship to the University of Hull where he won many prizes for outstanding performance. In 1987 he won the organ scholarship to St George�s Chapel, Windsor Castle and studied at the Royal Academy of Music. He taught in schools in Kent and Essex before moving to Durham in 1994. He is an examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and is much in demand as an organist, pianist, conductor and adjudicator. Mr Muttitt was appointed Director of Middle School Studies in September 2006 until his recent appointment as Director of Scholars.

Mr T A Davies, BA (Newcastle), PGCE

Director of Lower School Studies, Head of Classics

Mr. Davies was educated at Doncaster Grammar School and at Newcastle University where he gained an Honours degree in Classics. After completing his PGCE, he began teaching in Sheffield and later accepted his first Head of Classics post in Bolton. On relocation to the North-East, he took up the post of Head of Latin and History at Bow School. In 2006 he moved up to Durham School as Head of our Classics Department where he introduced Classical Civilisation into the curriculum at both GCSE and GCE A level. In September 2007 he was appointed Director of Lower School Studies. Mr. Davies is married with two grown-up sons and one daughter.

Mrs Nicola McCann, DipCIPR, MCIPR

Director of Marketing

With over twenty years of marketing experience gained in a top London advertising agency and in the North East charity sector, Nicola joined Durham School's marketing department in 2001. Promoted to Marketing & PR Manager in January 2009, Nicola was then further promoted to the position of Marketing Director in September 2009. Nicola is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and an Accredited Practitioner. Nicola has two sons who both attended Durham School. She is an Ambassador for Cancer Research UK and is a passionate supporter of this charity.

"In less than a term, our daughter gained hugely in confidence and self-esteem and this in turn led to a huge improvement in her standard of work, helped by a very early (within 2 weeks) identification of the need for some learning support, which was implemented and within only a matter of weeks showing massive benefits The engagement in House musical activities, too, helped her build her self-assurance. In addition, the opportunities for games offered by the School mean that she has now played hockey for the school (she never achieved that in 8 years at her previous school) and has taken the opportunity to try rowing, a sport not even available previously. All this in only a few weeks!"
Mrs Neal, Parent