Staff & Governors

George Hartley

Headmaster at King's from September 2017, previously Mr Hartley was Principal of Elizabeth College, Guernsey (2009 to 2017), Headmaster of Sixth Form at Berkhamsted School (2003 to 2009), Hertfordshire and beforehand taught at Highgate School, London and Eton College. George was educated at Cranbrook School, Kent, and St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, where he read Geography. He subsequently completed an MSc in Environmental Science at Imperial College, London. George currently sits on the HMC Membership Committee and has carried out many HMC accreditation visits at schools across the UK. He is married to Merewyn and has two children, Edmund and Ellie, both of whom attend King’s. Having been born in Preston, Lancashire (within a mile of Deepdale Stadium), George is a long-suffering fan of Preston North End FC and dearly hopes that at some point during his lifetime they will reach the Premier League. His other interests include rugby, cricket, mountaineering, poetry, singing and wine. He loves reading whenever he has the time, particularly the short stories of Raymond Carver and anything by Ian Fleming, John Buchan and Alexandre Dumas. George is also a keen cook, having worked in restaurants as a young man, and knocks up a pretty mean paella.

Jane Byrne

Was appointed Deputy Head in January 2014, after being Head of Modern Languages at The Manchester Grammar School since September 2006. Alongside leading the department, Jane was a sixth form tutor at MGS and a keen supporter of co-curricular activities. She has previously held positions in the Modern Languages Departments of The Bury Grammar School, and the Department of French Studies at the University of Manchester before joining King's.

Jane was born in Manchester. She read Modern Languages at The University of Manchester and spent time in Dijon, working at the Université de Bourgogne, before completing her PhD thesis. She gained her PGCE at Manchester Metropolitan University. Her interests include music (harp, oboe and piano), scuba diving, sailing, walking (particularly in Snowdonia), reading and travel. Jane is also enjoying learning Welsh.

Hayley Jordan

Hayley spent 26 years in the military leaving in the rank of Major in 2014. During her military career she served in the Ministry of Defence in London, Northern Ireland, Germany, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. After leaving the military Hayley joined Terra Nova Preparatory School in East Cheshire as their Director of Finance and Operations/Bursar, before joining King’s in January 2019. All of her roles have given her experience in strategic leadership, finance and project management; she is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management and a Member of the City and Guilds in Strategic Leadership and Management.

In her spare time Hayley enjoys socialising, cycling and walking her slightly crazy labradoodle. She is married to Jason and together they have a son called Zach.

James Millard

Has been Deputy Head (Academic) since September 2009 after being promoted from Director of Music, a post he held from the time he joined King's in 2004.

Previously, he was Director of Music at King's College School, Wimbledon, (2000-2004), Assistant Director of Music at Brentwood School (1991-1996) and a Music Teacher at Abingdon School (1996-2000). James was born in Ipswich and graduated from the University of Durham, College of St Hild & St Bede, where he read Music.

His Interests include music, theatre, golf, scuba diving and skiing and he has a healthy interest in good food and fine wine. James is married to Laura and they have two children who attend King's.

Michael Harle

Has been Deputy Head (Pastoral) since September 2009. Michael joined King's in September 1990 in the Chemistry Department and was a 6th form tutor and football coach for the U12s. The following year he started rugby at the school and has coached the 1st XV ever since. Michael was Examinations Officer from 1992-96 before becoming Head of Middle School in 1995.

Michael was born in Middlesbrough, although has lost his accent through many years of speech and drama! He graduated from Newcastle-upon-Tyne where he read Chemistry and then completed a year of organic research at UMIST, before studying for his PGCE at Manchester.

Michael is married to Rachel and has 2 children who have now finished their education at King's and moved on to university. His interests include rock climbing and road cycling.

Margaret Ainsworth

Margaret was appointed Head of Willow Lodge in January 2015 after being Deputy Head at The Queen's Lower School Chester. She joined Queen's in 2004 as Head of English having previously taught in local primary schools after changing careers from the Law to teaching. Margaret was in charge of pastoral care, safeguarding, curriculum development and a member of the Leadership Team.

Margaret introduced drama into the curriculum and was very actively involved in drama productions throughout the school. She contributed widely to the co-curricular provision and taught hockey, rounders and journalist club amongst others. Margaret's interests involve sailing, ski-ing, reading and walking the family dogs. She is married with three children.

Selena O'Donnell

After more than ten years working as a multi-media journalist for Trinity Mirror PLC, Selena joined North West Academies Trust in 2012 as Marketing Manager and helped to launch one of the first Free Schools in Chester. She continued to work with the Trust as it grew with the successful addition of other schools across the region.

She furthered her experience in education with a role as Marketing and Development Co-ordinator at The Queen’s School, Chester, before joining King’s as Marketing and Communications Manager in January 2018. She took up her current position in January 2019.

As part of her role, Selena is passionate about growing a network of working relationships between King’s and primary and secondary state schools in the area through the Chester Schools Together initiative and other Independent State School Partnership (ISSP) projects.

Selena is married with two young children and her interests include cinema, reading, interior design, creative writing and current affairs.

Emma Davidson

Emma Davidson job shares the role of Director of HR with her colleague Andrea Millard. Emma has over 15 years’ experience in HR in a number of sectors, including Business Partner roles in the retail, IT services, and banking sectors and most recently prior to joining King’s within the Higher Education sector at the University of Liverpool.

Her key areas of expertise are employee relations, change management and leadership development.

She studied for her English and History BA in the USA, and is married with two sons; her hobbies include training for local running races and attending boot camp.

Andrea Millard

Andrea Millard job shares the role of Director of HR with her colleague Emma Davidson. Andrea has a wealth of experience in the HR field: in her last post at Bank of America, she played a key role in the mergers and acquisitions team at legacy MBNA to Bank of America. She has experience in the retail sector, working as HR Manager at Selfridges in Manchester and London, opening the new flagship store in Trafford Centre, in addition to Boots the Chemists.

She graduated from Chester University with a BSc Hons in Health and Community Studies, and has her Graduate CIPD qualification. She is married with two daughters. In her spare time she likes to run and attend Zumba classes.