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The British School in the Netherlands (BSN) is an independent school. It is a non-profit organisation ('vereniging' in Dutch) entirely dependent on fee income and, unlike many other international schools, receives no subsidy from either the Dutch or British Governments.
The BSN is managed on a day-to-day basis by a CEO and the Executive Leadership Team. The BSN has appointed a new CEO, Louise Simpson, who took up her role in September 2025.
The CEO chairs the Executive Leadership Team, which reports to the school's Board of Governors (BoG), which, in turn, is overseen by the Association. The Association is chaired by the British Ambassador to the Netherlands.
Executive Leadership Team
The Executive Leadership Team, chaired by the CEO and comprising senior managers from the BSN's teaching and business staff, is responsible for the management and operational running of the school. This Leadership Team reports to the Board of Governors, which is responsible for strategic supervision and, in turn, reports to the Association.
Board of Governors
The Board of Governors consists of eight members. Five members are appointed by the Association's general meeting (see below), and two are appointed by the Association's Chair, the British Ambassador.
There are two members from the BSN parent community (one representing the Junior Schools and one representing the Senior Schools) who are the 'Parent Governors ' nominated by the Governor Parental Interest Nominating Committee. The other appointment is at the Ambassador's discretion. Many Governors have children currently or previously attending the BSN.
| Name | |
|---|---|
Mr Peter Bayliff - OBE |  |
| Mr Kevin Douglas (SSL) ICT, Security, Health & Safety and Co-Curricular Activities |  |
| Mr Marcus Stevenson (JSV) Government and External Relations |  |
| Mr Michael Wardropper (SSV) Finance |  |
| Mrs Selvei Topping (SSV) Safeguarding, Child Care and Child Protection, and Communications & Admissions |  |
Mrs Lucy McNamara |
|
The Association
The Association is governed by its Articles of Association, which are registered at the Kamer van Koophandel (Chamber of Commerce) at Den Haag. The Association has a maximum of 35 members who are appointed by the general meeting of the Association.
Eligibility for membership in the Association is subject to a unanimous nomination of all members of the Nominating Committee (which comprises three members drawn from the Association).
| Chair of The Association |
|---|
| Mr Chris Rampling, His Majesty’s British Ambassador to the Netherlands |
| Association Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Peter Bayliff OBE* | Mr Kit Coremans | Mr Graham Day | Ms Sandrine Dijoux |
| Mr Kevin Douglas* | Mr Laurens Kok | Mr Ian Laycock | Ms Ilka Loof |
| Mrs Lucy McNamara* | Ms Alison Smith | Mr Marcus Stevenson* | Mrs Selvei Topping* |
| Ms Deborah Valentine | Mrs Stacey Vickers | Mr Michael Wardropper | Mr Simon Weinberg |
| Mr Mike Weston | |||
*Also on the Board of Governors
Ondernemingsraad (OR)
Dutch Law requires that all enterprises employing more than 50 people have an Ondernemingsraad (Works Council). The BSN Ondernemingsraad comprises eleven elected staff members representing the four BSN campuses. The OR meets regularly with the Bestuurder (the CEO, who acts in this capacity as a liaison to the OR) to discuss the school's strategic operations. The OR has the right to give advice and the right to approve decisions taken by the Board of Management or the Board of Governors.