A COLWYN Bay school has announced the appointment of a new Head of Hockey from September.

Dominic Maguire will replace long-standing teacher and programme head Phil Mather at Rydal Penrhos School, and the new appointment started teaching at Calday Grammar School in 1994 after gaining a BEd Hons in Physical Education from Leeds Metropolitan University.

He has also worked at Aldenham School in Hertfordshire before relocating back to Cheshire after accepting an assistant Headteacher position at a school in Manchester.

More recently, Mr Maguire has worked at Manchester Health Academy as assistant Headteacher and Director of Post 16 Education.

Mr Maguire, said: “My family are very fortunate to spend lots of our time holidaying in North Wales and when I saw the post that was advertised with an interest in hockey it was something I could not dismiss.

“Meeting Mr (Simon) Smith and Mr (Allen) Boyd for the first time gave me an insight into what a fantastic school Rydal is and I did not want to pass up the opportunity. My passions are teaching, sport and hockey.

“I literally cannot wait to get stuck in, from the outside it might look like an odd decision to step away from my current responsibilities but I feel I can make a really positive impact and combine my passions with my career – I feel very privileged.”

Mr Maguire is a level three hockey coach and level one assessed hockey umpire, and has enjoyed a fantastic playing career spanning 15 years at the likes of Brooklands, St Albans and Bowdon.

He was recently selected to the England Masters O45’s team that competed at the World Cup in Australia.