Dave Cooke

Dave joined Rolls Royce Aero Engine Division as an undergraduate apprentice and worked in various shop floor and office departments for 10 years. He then moved to the Lake District and worked for the Youth Hostel Association before retiring in August 2011. He has been a school Governor for over 25 years serving Eskdale and Borrowdale Primary Schools. Dave originally decided to become a Governor because he wanted to contribute, and have a say, in his children’s education. He is an enthusiastic advocate of small rural schools and is committed to providing the best education for our children. Dave has been Chair of Governors since September 2014 and is the Governor with responsibility for Health & Safety. As part of his role as Chair, he also serves on the Finance & Staffing, Building & General Purposes and Learning Committees.

• Appointed: March 2021
• Term of Office: 4 years
• Appointed as a Foundation governor by St Andrew’s PCC.
• No business or pecuniary interests; or material interests arising from intra-governor or staff relationships.
• Dave is Chair of Governors and is a member of the Building & General Purposes Committee, Finance & Staffing Committee and Learning Committee. Dave is also the Governor with responsibility for Health & Safety.

Ralf Smits

Ralf started teaching at Borrowdale School in 2006 after his wife wanted to return to Cumbria where she was born and brought up. His passion for education was ignited when he was a student teacher in 1994, and ever since he has been excited about improving teaching and learning for pupils in his care. He started his teaching career in The Netherlands, but decided to broaden his horizons and moved to Tanzania where he taught in a British C of E International School. The inspiring experiences of teaching in Africa attracted him to move to a British International School in Thailand where he took up his first management role, but when his first child was born in 2005, traveling time was up.

Ralf took up the headship of Borrowdale School in 2011 and feels privileged to be educating children in a place so full of endless learning opportunities such as Borrowdale, and tries to make the most of them whenever he can. When not at work, Ralf can sometimes be spotted on his bike, walking or kayaking with his family or absent-mindedly plucking his guitar. 

• Appointed: Ex Officio as Headteacher
• Term of Office: Not applicable
• Business or pecuniary interests: Headteacher
• No material interests arising from intra-governor or staff relationships.
• Ralf is a member of the Building & General Purposes Committee, Finance & Staffing Committee and Learning Committee. Ralf is also the Link governor.

Alan Leyland

Alan was born in Borrowdale and educated at Borrowdale School, Keswick School and Fitzwilliam College Cambridge where he studied Mechanical Sciences.  He was awarded a British Railways Engineering Scholarship
In 1966 and trained there as a Professional Civil Engineer leading to his becoming  a Chartered Engineer and Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1974.  Subsequently Alan worked for  railway administrations overseas  and became an independent consultant in transport planning in general and railway operations and engineering in particular.  Alan has now largely retired from this work but continues with his wife, Cheryl, to operate the family business of Manesty Holiday Cottages which is based on the farmstead of that name which has been the family home for five generations.  Alan believes that local rural schools are the keystone of the rural community and for that reason has served on the governing body of Borrowdale School for almost 25 years.  He also chairs the Borrowdale Charitable Trust which supports the School financially and eases out the peaks and troughs of school finance and helps to provide the extras which help to give Borrowdale School its special and unique character.  Alan and Cheryl’s six children all attended Borrowdale School which gave them the sound educational start which enabled each of them to progress to gain entry to Oxford or Cambridge Universities.

• Appointed : October 2021  
• Term of Office: 4 years
• Appointed as a Foundation governor by St Andrew’s PCC.
• Business or pecuniary interests: Trustee and Chair of Borrowdale Charitable Trust. No material interests arising from intra-governor or staff relationships.
• Alan is a member of the Building & General Purposes Committee and the Finance & Staffing Committee.

Gill Crossley

Gill has been a teacher since 1983 and has worked in both large and rural schools in Derbyshire, Australia and Cumbria. She has had a variety of teaching roles at Borrowdale School, covering both key stages, from 2013 up until she retired in 2020.

• Appointed: October 2019 Re-appointed October 2023
• Term of Office: 4 years
• Appointed as a Foundation Governor
• No intra-governor or staff relationships.
• Gill is Chair of the Learning Committee

Rev'd Charles Hope

I was ordained back in 1990 aged 26, after having read Geography (Oxford) and Theology (Durham), to serve as the Church of England Curate of Percy Main & Meadow Well (North Shields). This area had major riots in 1991, large scale investment in urban and social regeneration through Development Corporation and City Challenge. I was involved in much of this, as well in wider community development work including as establishing a Detached Youth Work and Children’s Play Project. In 1994 I became Vicar of the Parish and stayed there till 2003. I have always been involved in schools. Doing assemblies and taking classes at both Primary and Secondary level, as well as being a Governor of four primary schools (Chair of Percy Main Primary 1998-2003). I have also served on the Diocesan Education Board and its Church Schools Committee, focusing on Ethos, RE and school building matters in particular.

In 2003 I became Vicar of Prudhoe. Apart from being a Governor of the High School (also Chairman of the Property Committee, a member of the Finance & GP Committee and being the Humanities Link Governor), I also did assemblies in all county schools in the town. I was also chairman of the Prudhoe Community Partnership and its Library Build Project.

In 2016 we moved to Keswick on my appointment as Priest in Charge of Keswick St John’s and with responsibility for Borrowdale (Vicar-designate).

In my ministry I have always been committed to the life of the Church and its relevance to life of the whole community. I am also committed to the importance of building bridges between all elements of a community and to work for its regeneration (spiritually, emotionally, physically, economically, educationally, etcetera, all in the broadest sense), within my ability, role and capacity. I am also a Chaplain in the Territorial Army, was mobilised to serve in Iraq in 2004, am married to Kathryn and have three children (Megan, Emily & Katy).

• Appointed : Ex Officio
• Term of Office: Not applicable
• Appointed as an ex-officio Foundation governor by St Andrew’s PCC.
• Chair - Keswick School Local Governing Body, ex-officio foundation governor St. Herbert's CE Primary School  
• No business or pecuniary interests; or material interests arising from intra-governor or staff relationships.
• Charles is the link governor for SEN and Safeguarding.

Sue Starkey

Sue worked in finance in the NHS prior to having her family and then for a variety of employers until moving to Keswick in 2000.  Since 2006, she has worked as Finance Manager for a local youth charity.  Her own children attended small rural/ village schools and she was delighted when her association with Borrowdale School started as her grandchildren began attending the school.  Sue was happy to be given the opportunity to serve in the role of governor, as she felt this would enable her to contribute with other governors, the Headteacher and staff, in the preservation and promotion of the high standards of education already provided by the school.  Sue is committed to ensuring the continuation of this unique learning environment for each and every child attending the school.

• Appointed : July 2022
• Term of Office: 4 years
• Appointed as a Foundation governor by St Andrew’s PCC.
• No business or pecuniary interests; or material interests arising from intra-governor or staff relationships. Sue Starkey is related to Jessica Hartley
• Sue is Deputy Chair of Governors and a member of the Finance & Staffing Committee

Rick Cooper

Rick studied economics at Swansea and went on to take a masters in urban and regional planning at Strathclyde. He is a chartered town planner and worked in local government in Cumbria for 11 years, initially as a planner then in  economic policy at the County Council. For the last 13 years he has run a walking holiday business in Keswick. Rick became a parent governor in 2009 soon after both his sons joined the school. Rick has continued as an associate member after his parent governor position expired in September 2017. As an associate member Rick votes on Buildings & General Purposes Committee issues but not at   full Governing Body meetings.

• Appointed: September 2022
• Term of Office: 1 year
• Appointed as an Associate Member
• No business or pecuniary interests; or material interests arising from intra-governor or staff relationships.
• Rick is Chair of the Building & General Purposes Committee

Melanie Mustafa

Mel grew up in Keswick and attended trinity (now St Herbert’s), Keswick and Casterton Schools. On completing her A levels, Mel attended the University of Manchester where she gained a degree in nursing specialising in mental health. After graduating, Mel moved to London where she worked in various hospital settings around the capital before training as a dialectical behavioural therapist and specialising in the treatment of women with borderline personality disorder.

Following the birth of her eldest daughter, Mel and her now husband relocated back to Keswick to be closer to family. When choosing a school for her children, Mel fell in love with Borrowdale school and its beautiful setting as well as the calm and nurturing atmosphere within the school. Mel is looking forward to understanding more about how the school works and to making a positive contribution to this unique and special school.

• Appointed: October 2019  Re-appointed November 2023
• Term of Office: 4 years
• Appointed as a Parent Governor
• No business or pecuniary interests; or material interests arising from intra-governor or staff relationships.
• Mel is a member of the Learning Committee

Jessica Hartley

Jessica moved to Keswick in 2000. She had fallen in love with the Borrowdale Valley after holidaying there for many years as a child and so was delighted when her three children were able to attend the School.

Jessica, her husband Dan and their children moved to Stonethwaite in 2014 living right next door to the school. The whole family enjoys being part of the close-knit community of the valley.

She volunteers regularly at the school helping in both Key Stages and EYFS. This has enabled her to see first hand the day-to-day life of the school and therefore it seemed to be a natural progression to become a Governor. 

Jessica enjoys walking her dogs and running in the local area.

• Appointed January 2022
• Term of Office: 4 years
• Appointed as a Parent Governor
• No business or pecuniary interests; or material interests arising from intra-governor or staff relationships. Jessica is related to Sue Starkey
• Jess is a member of the Learning Committee

     Sue Ryan

Sue was brought up in the Manchester area and before coming to Borrowdale, spent most of her adult life raising three children, teaching in large and small primary schools and being involved in church youth and children's work.

Since coming to the valley in 2004 she has been committed to Borrowdale School in various ways---Clerk to the Governors, reading support, Collective Worship Leader, school singing.

Hobbies include singing with Keswick Choral Society, reading, improving piano playing skills and having fun with Grandchildren.

• Appointed January 2022

• Term of Office: 4 years

• Appointed as a Foundation governor by St Andrew’s PCC

• No business or pecuniary interests; or material interests arising from staff relationships. 

• Sue is a member of the Learning Committee

Meg Archbold

Meg Archbold is a staff governor and has been teaching at Borrowdale School since 2020. She grew up in the area and began her teaching career in Sheffield after graduating from an Undergraduate Degree in Primary Education with QTS in 2014. As well as gaining teaching experience in KS2, Meg has specialised in IT and Online Safety. She has experience of working within a big multi-academy trust as well as small school experience here at Borrowdale. 

When not at work, Meg can be found hiking, camping, reading and travelling. As much as she enjoys the Lake District, she loves spending time overseas, exploring the world, and gaining experience in other jobs. These have ranged from voluntary work in refugee warehouses and soup kitchens, to running adventure tours in Thailand!

• Appointed January 2022

• Term of Office: 4 years

• Elected as a Staff governor 

• No business or pecuniary interests; or material interests arising from staff relationships. 

• Meg is a member of the Learning Committee

 Vanessa Metcalfe

Vanessa is a life-long resident of Borrowdale and was educated at Borrowdale School and Keswick School. Much of her career was spent in banking before moving on to become the Tourism Manager for Keswick Tourism Association.  She has three grown up children who all attended Borrowdale School, as did her parents and grandparents.  Whilst her children attended the school, she was a parent Governor for several years. Vanessa believes that Borrowdale School is an essential part of the community and offers children the very best start in life.  She is passionate about ensuring the long-term future of the school and this led to her decision to return to the Board of Governors.  She brings with her a range of skills including marketing and communications, which she hopes to use to successfully share the good work that the school does and attract new pupils.

• Appointed: June 2022
• Term of Office: 4 years
• Appointed as a Local Authority Governor.
• No business or pecuniary interests; or material interests arising from intra-governor or staff relationships.
• Vanessa is Chair of the Finance & Staffing Committee