“We encourage independence of mind, curiosity and aspiration, allowing each child the opportunity to maximise their individual strengths and achieve their potential.”

Welcome from Our Head

I would like to extend you a very warm Westville welcome.

I am delighted that you are taking the time to look at our wonderful school in Ilkley, set in acres of idyllic Yorkshire countryside.  As a school we offer a unique educational journey in a warm, family friendly environment.

Westville is full of happy, empowered children who enjoy learning, take ownership for it and develop as lifelong learners.  We provide every one of our pupils the very best teaching, the highest standards of pastoral care and a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities.  We instil confidence, build resilience and nurture mind and spirit, preparing the children for the senior schools of choice but also for life beyond school.

For children, Westville is an exploration that is both inspiring and challenging. We encourage independence of mind, curiosity and aspiration, allowing each child the opportunity to maximise their individual strengths and achieve their potential. 

Academic standards are excellent but we also consider happiness and emotional resilience as integral. Physical health, emotional well-being, moral understanding, an appreciation of culture and the arts, science and the humanities all form part of the core curriculum.  Westville children believe in themselves and aspire to contribute.

When a child leaves Westville they are well prepared for the world – self confident, sociable and articulate – with many special memories of their time here.  Likewise, the parents embrace the vibrant Westville community and enjoy that sense of belonging that emerges in all Westville children.

We hope you will come and visit us so that you can experience what makes Westville House such a special place.

Mrs Susan Walker

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Dan Rathbone

Chair of Governors

Dan has two children at Westville. Dan has a Masters degree in electronic engineering from the University of York but chose to pursue a career in software engineering. After working in the tech departments at companies such as EE and Sky, Dan went on to found tech consultancy Infinity Works Consulting in 2014, growing the business to 450 staff before the business was acquired. Dan is now working on a new tech FinTech start-up which is in the very early stages of growth. Dan is a keen musician, fisherman, petrol-head, runner and investor and brings his technology know-how to the board.

Stewart McGuffie

Governor

Stewart is Group Chief Executive of Allied Textiles Ltd, a business that manufactures specialist textile products from factories in the UK and
Canada. He graduated from Newcastle University with a degree in Law and went on to qualify as a Chartered Management Accountant.

He sits on the Governing Body of Bolton School; serves as Treasurer and a Non-Executive Director of UK Fashion and Textiles; is a Trustee of a Scottish charity, Give Blood 4 Good and an “Entrepreneur in Residence” for Connect Yorkshire. Stewart brings invaluable commercial experience and boundless enthusiasm to the board.

Jonathan Clough

Governor

Jonathan is the founder and CEO of STRAT7Researchbods, a global data and insight consultancy which is part of a private equity backed group STRAT7. His background stems from an understanding of how customer insights and marketing play together, and has helped global brands be more customer centric. He has two children at Westville and is passionate about sport, fitness and wellbeing.

William Eddison

Governor

William was a senior partner in Dale Eddison, the UK’s most successful small chain Estate Agency practice. William’s children were educated at Westville and he has been a long serving Governor. Highly respected in the locality, William brings a huge depth of local knowledge and experience to the board.

Karen Ellison

Governor

Karen has had a long association with Westville having put all four of her children through the school. Karen qualified as a doctor and practiced at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust as an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist for 25 years. She now practices in medical law for the Medical Protection Society. Her experience as a school parent alongside her medical and legal expertise ensures she is a great asset to the school.

Rosey James

Advisory Governor

Rosey James trained at the University of Cape Town where she majored in Maths and Chemistry and completed her PGCE. Her teaching career spanned 36 years during which she taught in 4 countries, in state, independent and international schools. She joined Westville in 1996 and through her 19 years held a variety of roles culminating in the Headteacher position. Rosey retired in September 2015 and now enjoys mentoring Heads and working on governing bodies.

Geoff Mountain

Governor

Geoff Mountain lives near Harrogate and has been married for 35 years to Helen. They have 3 children and 3 grandchildren. Geoff was the founder and CEO of PM Group PLC, is Chairman and shareholder of MSL and Pitts Wilson. Geoff has extensive knowledge of PLC Corporate Governance, manages an extensive property portfolio and is involved with local beef and sheep farming.

Caroline Hurwood

Governor

Caroline has two boys at Westville. She studied Business Management at Newcastle University followed by a Masters in Real Estate Management at Oxford Brookes. She is a Chartered Surveyor having trained with Knight Frank in London followed by 8 years in corporate real estate consultancy at PwC. She is currently Workplace Strategy Lead at Lloyd’s Banking Group and is also an industry mentor with Women In Property.

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