Thursday 4 April 2013 There’s a new face in the picture gallery at The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) following the unveiling of a new portrait of former head Dr Mark Bailey. Mark was head during a time of great change in the 450 year history of the school. As Headmaster and Chief Executive of Leeds Grammar School (LGS) from 1999 to 2005 and Head and Chief Executive of GSAL from 2005 to 2010, he took over while LGS was still settling into its new home at Alwoodley Gates. He then oversaw the merger with Leeds Girls’ High School which created today’s co-educational school. In recognition of these achievements GSAL’s Board of Governors commissioned a portrait from artist Peter Holt, which was unveiled at a special ceremony in front of an audience of Mark’s former colleagues, family and friends, governors and students. David Gravells, chair of the governors, welcomed the guests. He said: “Thank you for being here on this important occasion for GSAL. It commemorates an individual who contributed immensely to the change and development of this school, which would not be as we know it today without his input.” Mark, who is now High Master at St Paul’s School in London, said: “When I was 11 years old I went to school and up on the walls were these ancient authoritarian figures; it’s discomfiting to recognise that I have now joined them! However it’s a huge honour and I feel a sense of pride, privilege and humility as any head is only as effective as the people around him. I enjoyed my time at GSAL enormously and had a great group of colleagues. Thank you.” Peter Holt is a former commercial artist, who now divides his time between teaching, portraiture and fine art. He said: “As my first formal portrait this was a new challenge; my style is usually more relaxed. The school crests in the background are an echo of the inscriptions in Tudor portraiture, reflecting Mark as a historian and his role in bringing the two schools together.” Following the ceremony, the annual Mark Bailey lecture was delivered by sport psychologist and performance coach Simon Hartley on ‘How Ordinary People Become World Class.’ General News
