Wednesday 6 May 2015 Sue Woodroofe, the new principal of GSAL, will be returning to her home county when she takes up her new post during the next academic year. Mrs Woodroofe is currently principal of The British School of Brussels (BSB), and is one of a small number of female heads of an HMC school. Currently there are just 36 female heads in 269 HMC schools in UK and Ireland. She was brought up in Yorkshire and completed her secondary education at York College for Girls before training at Durham University as a teacher of English and history. She has worked in a wide range of schools in the UK, both single sex and co-educational, selective and comprehensive. After a family move took her to Belgium, Mrs Woodroofe was appointed secondary school deputy head at BSB in 2004. She achieved promotion two years later to head of secondary school (ages 11-18), and after five years in that post was appointed principal in 2011. Mr David Gravells, chairman of governors, said: “We are delighted that Sue Woodroofe is going to be our new principal. She will bring vision, passion and considerable experience to the role having been a successful leader in a number of state and independent schools in the UK and Europe. Sue offers a unique perspective to GSAL as we develop our young people for the future.” Mrs Woodroofe said: “I’ve long admired The Grammar School at Leeds and I’m very excited at the prospect of becoming its new principal. I’ve been privileged to hold leadership positions in schools across the education sector both in the UK and more recently in Europe. I’m passionate about helping young people achieve their potential and I’m looking forward to returning to my Yorkshire roots.” The appointment of Mrs Woodroofe comes after a rigorous international search and selection process, following the announcement of the retirement of Mike Gibbons. Alumni News
