The Leys School

Head

Clare Ives

Dr Ives joined The Leys in 2025 from Sevenoaks School, where she was Senior Deputy Head. Before that she was a Boarding Housemistress, the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Lead and a former Head of History at Canford School. She studied at the University of St Andrews, where she earned a first-class degree in Modern History and wrote her PhD on Robert Kennedy and the US Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. Prior to teaching, she spent eight years working as a civil servant. (BA (First Class) Modern History, University of St Andrews; PhD (Robert Kennedy and the US Civil Rights Movement))

Senior Deputy Head

Catherine Stevens

Mrs Stevens joined The Leys in September 2024 from The Royal Hospital School, Suffolk, where she spent eight years as Deputy Head (Academic). With thirteen years in independent boarding and seven years in state education, other roles include Head of Science and Head of Careers and PSHE. She is an ISI inspector. She studied at the University of Birmingham before moving to Leeds to undertake teacher training. Biology teacher with a particular interest in human physiology. (University of Birmingham degree; PGCE, University of Leeds)

Bursar

Paul McKeown

Mr McKeown joined The Leys as Bursar and Clerk to The Governors in January 2003. Previously a teacher at Stamford School and then Trent College, where he was Head of Business Education and then took on Marketing and Development responsibility. At Trent College he led a project to set up and launch the new prep school, The Elms. He has been a Governor at Heath Mount School for 10 years with particular responsibility for Finance. (BA Economics and Accounting, University of Leeds; PGCE, University of Manchester; MA, University of Leicester)

Deputy Head (Academic)

Oliver Peck

Mr Peck arrived in September 2020 from Oundle School where he was Head of Science and Technology for eight years. Prior to that he held posts at Brighton College as Head of Biology and Ampleforth College as a teacher of Biology and Assistant Housemaster. He is an ISI Team Inspector and served as a governor at the Royal Hospital School. (BSc Biology, University of Leeds; PGCE Secondary Science, University of Leeds)

Deputy Head (Pastoral)

Helen Hynd

Mrs Hynd joined The Leys in 2017 having been a boarding housemistress, head of department and lay chaplain at Epsom College. She has worked at RGS Guildford, Bradfield College and Latymer Upper School. Prior to teaching she worked in politics and took part in a Round the World Yacht Race, being a member of the winning crew. She was awarded a Farmington Fellowship in 2006 focused on how schools can support the individual faith of pupils. (BA Joint Honours Theology and Philosophy, University of Nottingham; MA Theological Research, Durham University; PGCE, King's College London; Farmington Fellowship 2006)

Deputy Head (Wider Curriculum)

William Earl

Mr Earl joined The Leys in September 1997, having completed his PGCE at Cambridge University and taught for a year at Framlingham College. He is a Geography graduate of Loughborough University. In his time at The Leys he has been Head of Sixth Form (2000-2004), Housemaster of West (2004-13), Head of Hockey (1999-2010), and Director of Sport (2013-16) before being appointed Deputy Head (Wider Curriculum) in 2016. (BA Geography, Loughborough University; PGCE, University of Cambridge)