South Island School Leadership Structure – August 2019 update
Dear Parents,
As we examine our future vision for South Island School, we have been reflecting on our best leadership structure for the future – and after careful analysis, we have decided to make a number of changes from August 2019. This will also coincide with the moment when our long-serving Vice Principal, Annette Chapman, retires with her husband Chris after 33 years of dedicated service to South Island School. We will all miss Annette and Chris enormously when they finally leave us in July and we wish them a very happy and prosperous retirement.
VICE PRINCIPALS
Teaching and Learning are our core purpose! Therefore, from August, we will be aligning our three Vice Principal roles with oversight of our central curricula.
Carolyn Andrews will move into the role of Vice Principal: Teaching and Learning. As you know, Carolyn has led the tremendously successful implementation of the IB MYP curriculum at South Island School. Carolyn’s role will now involve extending her expertise upwards to oversee our academic programmes as a whole, as we seek to ensure that learning in the classroom is genuinely excellent at all times.
Lucie Purves will join us in the role of Vice Principal: Guidance and Well-Being. Lucie is currently Head of Middle School at Sha Tin College, and we are delighted that someone of Lucie’s experience and calibre will be joining us. Lucie’s role will involve overseeing everything to do with the pastoral side of school life: we believe that happy students and happy teachers are the secret ingredients of exceptional learning, and well-being is at the heart of our central objectives going forward. Congratulations to Lucie on her appointment to South Island School!
Darin Slethaug will take the role of Vice Principal: Values in Action and Learning Systems. Darin will have strategic oversight of the extra-curricular side of school life, and will also continue to oversee the development and usage of learning systems within the school.
Together with Lydia Yu, our Business Manager, our three Vice Principals will aim to ensure that all aspects of school life are fully aligned with our strategic objectives.
SECTION LEADERS
Complementing the work of our three Vice Principals will be our three Section Leaders, each in charge of one phase of the school.
Shaine Bushell will move into the role of Head of Post 11 Learning (MYP Coordinator). Shaine already has the role of MYP Academic Coordinator and has been a key player in the success of the MYP programme to date. We are delighted that Shaine is now taking on the oversight of the IB MYP phase as a whole, as the overall coordinator for the Year 7-9 curricula, a role which will include helping to ensure that new students make a smooth transition to South Island School on arrival. Congratulations to Shaine on his promotion!
Fran Crouch will oversee the GCSE phase, continuing her existing role of Head of Post 14 Learning (GCSE Coordinator), with overall responsibility for the Year 10-11 curricula. Fran will also continue in her role as Making A Difference Coordinator, ensuring that our core philosophy remains absolutely central to school life.
Kelly Diaz will oversee the IB DP/CP phase, continuing her existing role of Head of Post 16 Learning (IB DP Coordinator), involving holistic coordination of the Year 12-13 curricula. Kelly will liaise closely with our Careers and Higher Education Department on university application procedures, and will also continue in her role as Head of TOK.
Together, our three Section Leaders will aim to ensure that our students make smooth journeys from their primary schools, through MYP, GCSE and IBDP or IBCP – and ultimately onwards to their higher education and career goals.
The above changes will take place from August 2019 – it will be business as usual until then! We hope you like the new shape of our Leadership Team, all of whom will work closely with our Heads of Faculty, Heads of Year, Heads of House and all staff, as we continue to ensure outstanding educational provision for all of our students.
