Curriculum Vitae

Date of Birth: 18.6.66

Marital Status: Married

Nationality: British

Children: aged 21 and 14

Specific relevant skills, ethos and experience

Experienced leader of successful and exciting Art Departments/Arts Faculties.
Belief in celebrating students’ work in and out of the school context and the value of ‘real world’ experiences - projects with community organisations, artists/designers, businesses, firsthand experience of art works.
Exemplary budgetary, appraisal and professional development management
Experience of developing departments and IBMYP/IBDP/A level/IGCSE/AP programmes.
Excellent college placement record.
IB Diploma Visual Arts examiner, Extended Essay examiner
Belief in the importance of teacher/practitioners with both a deep immersion in their subject and a rigorous, individualised student centred approach. The joy of teaching lays in the learning of both teacher and student.

Current Post

Teacher of Visual Art

ABA Oman International School

Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.

March 2023 to Present

Teaching grade 9-12 MYP and IBDP

Head of Art

Deira International School, Dubai. August 2022 to December 2022.

Leading a busy department on a large school offering IGCSEs and IBDP visual arts.

Visual Art teacher Prem Tinsulanonda International School, Chiang Mai Thailand. 2019-2022

Moving to Chiang Mai as Rachel began her first Headship I initially had both middle school art classes and a position maintaining the school website and other Administrative and Marketing tasks. This has evolved into a solely visual art teaching role teaching middle visual art to Grade 7/Year8, Grade 8/Year9, Grade 9/Year 10, Grade 10/Year 11 and mentoring a Grade11/Year 12 class who are undertaking the IBCP Savanah College of Art and Design course.The skill set I have developed over the past twenty years of visual acuity, writing to deadlines and interpersonal communication has been invaluable.

I have also reconnected with my own studio practice and I am exhibiting paintings in Chiang Mai and internationally.

This has had a hugely positive impact on my teaching.

Teacher of Visual Arts and Theory of knowledge, ABA - an IB World School, Sultanate of Oman. 2016 - 2019 (IBMYP and IBDP)

My aim was to reach beyond the confines of the art studio with the aim of the Visual Arts becoming a greater source of pride in the school. I made significant impact on the written curriculum and made good use digital tools to enhance teaching and learning in my classes. I worked with the PTA, and the school administration to increase the frequency of exhibitions and opportunities for the Visual Arts to contribute to the school year beyond the curriculum. I sought ways to introduce real world experiences and inspiration to students through gallery visits, arranging visiting artists, and visual resource gathering expeditions. The feedback I sought from my classes about the courses and my teaching was very positive, and parents clearly appreciated my openness and professionalism.

I found that Theory Of Knowledge teaching and my work as a Grade 11 Learning Mentor was mutually beneficial for my teaching of visual art. In terms of teaching and learning I consider the two years at ABA to be the best I have had. Whilst this was undoubtedly due in large part to the quality of the students and the school ethos, I believe it was also due to my confidence in my classroom practice and excitement about the myriad ways visual fluency and literacy can be nurtured and refined.

The range of innovation and development can be gauged by visiting my ABA Visual Arts website, clicking the button below.

Teacher of Art, Dalian American International School, P.R. China. 2015-2016

Moving to Dalian as Rachel took on her first HS principal position. Teaching Art to grades 6-12. The largely EAL nature of the students, the majority of whom have little or no previous art education, the facilities, budget and perception of the arts in the wider community presented challenges that required tenacity, cultural sensitivity, humour and patience. In a relatively short time span I wrote and documented a new Art curriculum, raised the profle of visual art through extra-curricular projects, initiated a Design course that worked for real clients, negotiated a budget and new ways of managing it, and begun to shift perceptions of Art education in the school community.

Evidence of progress made can be seen by clicking on the button below.

Director of Arts (Whole School) International School of Zug and Luzern, Switzerland 2013 -2015

My role spanned the three ISZL campuses and all grade levels and constituted 40% of my responsibility. I was responsible for the continuity and development of the arts curriculum and extra-curricula arts events and initiatives, including oversight and development of our Music School. As the school grew so did our ambition for the Arts at all levels of the school and with the whole school community. The range of events and opportunities for students developed rapidly; managing such a varied and demanding calendar, and a team of dedicated professionals over three campuses required exemplary organisational skills and inter-personal sensitivity.

Head of Arts Department, Teacher of Visual Art, Art History and TOK ISZL: August 2007 – 2015 (IB MYP, IB Diploma, Advanced Placement)

In addition to the development of curriculum, assessment practices and resources in the High School we also had an exciting schedule of exhibitions and performances throughout the year, both within each Arts discipline and collectively in Arts Week and seasonal Arts events. The school grew considerably in the past six years and with it our reach and ambition as a department within school, the local community and beyond. The acquisition of a large industrial space enabled us to develop the “Art Factory” as studio space for the teaching of visual art and as a flexible arts space for performance and exhibition for the whole school. Teaching TOK had a hugely positive impact on my classroom practice at all grade levels.

Tutor group/pastoral system coordinator – ISZL : August 2008 – 2010

In addition to my work in the Arts I also had the remit to organise and direct the tutors of grades 9-12 (years 10-13) as they delivered the pastoral programme. I introduced tutor grade level teams and we articulated our pastoral curriculum with that of the middle and primary sections. From these foundations our PSHE programme grew into its current form and is now a core part of the school's life.

Dean of Arts Faculty, Harrow International School, Bangkok Thailand 2004 – 2007.

Responsible for the Arts Faculty, comprising the Departments of Art, Music, Drama, ICT and P.E. My remit was to ensure a line of communication and management through to the SMT through regular meetings with the whole faculty and the HODs. This included appraisal of HODs, administrative and academic staff. I also had a particular remit as Dean in charge of academic development with a brief to develop the pedagogical framework and systems used in the secondary school, including Academic Monitoring, Interdisciplinary links, Exceptionally Able provision, Mentoring and Learning Support. This role also led to chairing the Philosophy and Objectives committee during the school’s COIS Accreditation.

Head of Art, Harrow International School. September 2003 - 2007 (IGCSE, A Level)

The department moved to new facilities and grew considerably over the 4 years, and the number of exam groups increased annually. There was much to be done in raising the profile and status of the visual arts, and our exam results, value added data, accreditation report and studios full of students outside of class time, all demonstrated the success of strategies and initiatives I put in place. I also ensured frequent opportunities for students to exhibit and celebrate their work both in and outside of the school, and the school developed a reputation for excellence in the visual arts. I instigated an association called ‘Art Teacher’s Forum Thailand’, which provided a means of sharing information, professional development and expertise throughout international schools in Thailand and beyond. This combined with developing a positive working relationship with Cambridge International Examinations board increased the department’s profile in the region further.

Previous Experience

Head of Art, International School of Nice, France. September 2001 – July 2003

Teaching Art to Grade 7-12. Cambridge IGCSE, IB Diploma Visual Art

Head of Art, Southbank International School, London. September 1998 – July 2001

Teaching IB Middle Years Programme and IB Diploma Programme to Grade 6-12

Teacher of Visual Education, International School of Hamburg, Germany. Sept 1995 – July 1998

Teaching Art and Design , Grade6-12, IB Diploma.

Teacher of Art, The Radcliffe School, Bucks. September 1993 – July 1995

Teaching Art and Design in a large comprehensive in Milton Keynes to years 7 – 13.

Qualifications

PGCE – Art and Design, University of Reading 1992- 1993

BA (hons) 2:1 Fine Art Sculpture, Brighton Polytechnic 1985 – 1988

Foundation Diploma Art and Design, Hounslow Borough College, 1984 – 1985

dais visual art web site

Visual Art ABA

PTIS Website