About Me

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I consider myself to be a creative and adventurous person who has many years of experience working as an Art Teacher in a variety of roles. I care for each student that I come into contact with as an individual, and after many years in the classroom, I still find working with young people inspiring and motivational.

I am currently working as the Art Coordinator for the Lodestar Academy, an alternative provision in Torquay. At The Lodestar Academy, I have successfully established an Art Department that caters specifically to the needs of students who have been permanently excluded from mainstream education. Through dedicated effort and innovative teaching methods, I have achieved successful GCSE results for these students.

Previously, I worked at Kings InterHigh, part of the Inspired group. Kings InterHigh is an international and fully online school. While I believe that education is broader than academic attainment and thrives on direct human interaction, I acknowledge the unique benefits of online education. My time at Kings InterHigh upgraded my teaching tools, enabling me to embrace modern technology and powerful delivery methods. This experience was particularly significant during the global pandemic, which necessitated the rapid adoption of digital teaching methods.

Before my role at Kings InterHigh, I worked for The New English School (NES) in Kuwait, a leading British international school with 50 years of experience. During my time at NES, I adapted quickly to the rapidly changing situation brought about by the pandemic, which motivated me to seek the best new methods to support students during this unprecedented challenge. I was actively involved in the school’s annual exhibition, supported the drama department with publications and set painting, and promoted a popular after-school club focused on set design.

Prior to NES, I was part of the founding team and Head of Faculty for Art and Design Technology at Malvern College Egypt. This new school started with 350 students in August 2016 and has since doubled in size. I was part of a highly committed team of teachers who successfully developed a high-quality teaching environment in a challenging region. I was responsible for directing Art across the whole school, from Early Years to GCSE and A-Level/IB. I promoted Art through school exhibitions, created Art Ambassadors, and established the successful Artist of the Term and Artist of the Year awards. My first cohort of 8 students completed their GCSE Fine Art course in Year 10, achieving 6 level 9’s and 2 level 8’s.

Before Malvern College Egypt, I taught at the renowned St Christopher’s International School in Bahrain, which has a global reputation for excellence. There, I taught Key Stages 3, 4, and 5, with students attaining 100% B-A* at GCSE and 100% C-A* at A-Level. I was involved in annual school exhibitions, designed Art catalogues, supported the Drama Department with set designs, and led international school trips focusing on Art and Drama in London and Community Service in Thailand.

My teaching experience extends beyond international schools and includes significant time working as the Coordinator of Art for schools that support students with significant educational, social, and behavioral difficulties (ESBD), including Marland School and St Nicholas School. At Marland School, I completed my NQT year and raised the profile of Art through exhibitions within the school and the wider community. At St Nicholas School, I transformed a failing department, created a new digital media suite, and organized an installation Art project that received local press coverage. I also paired the school with a similar institution in South Africa as part of the lead-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

I have now been a teacher for 19 years, maintaining a proven track record of improving standards of attainment and promoting Art in all my teaching roles. I am an accredited IGCSE moderator with CIE and can teach Fine Art, Art & Design, Ceramics, Photography, and Digital Media up to A-Level or IB. I have excellent ICT skills, am organized and reliable, and maintain a calm, firm, but fair and consistent approach to teaching. I build positive professional relationships with staff and students and have been identified by students as a positive male role model. I have exceptional classroom management skills and can teach at any key stage successfully.

Throughout my career, I have realized that the role of a teacher expands far beyond the classroom. As a form tutor, I have taken an interest in the holistic development of students, building relationships with students, staff, and parents. Tutors and pastoral teams provide positive role models, develop trust, and monitor students holistically.

I consider myself to be a motivated and professional teacher with strong interpersonal skills. I pride myself on my organizational ability, meeting deadlines, and using assessment effectively to improve and monitor student attainment. I work well under pressure and enjoy contributing to school life and extracurricular activities. I continually strive to become an even better teacher, aiming to learn from, inspire, and motivate those who work alongside me.