About Mark Symmonds

  • Academic Level  Master’s Degree
  • Date of Birth  358819200
  • Salary  500
  • Gender  Male
  • Title  Vice Principal
  • Video Introduction 
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About me

– Current Deputy Head of Pre-Prep at Rugby School Thailand

– Director of Holidays Camps – designed, planned and executed 5 holidays camps with over 500 day and boarding children to date from all over the world

– Graduated with a Master’s Degree in International Education in 2017

– A carefully crafted 17-year career across six countries to develop my own philosophy in education 

– Rugby is my third school which I have helped build joining when the school is less than 24 months old

– A value-driven, innovative and reflective leader   

– A core belief is that relationships are key to success both in and out of the classroom

– Driven to be 1% better every day both personally and professionally, and help those around me to do the same

Education

  • 2020
    Harvard Business School

    Certificate in School Management and Leadership

  • 2017
    Bath University, UK

    Masters Degree in International Education

  • 2005
    London South Bank University, UK

    Post Graduate Certificate in Education (Primary 5-11)

Experience

  • 2020 - Present
    Rugby School Thailand, Chon Buri, Thailand

    Deputy Head (Pre-Prep) / Director of Holiday Camps

    Deputy Head
    Developing, implementing and refining a 21st-century curriculum
    Policy Development
    Lead on the Pre-Prep distance learning programme during COVID-19 closures
    Leading operational management

    Director of Holiday Camps
    Leading five camps to date with 500 day and boarding children attending our camps
    Summer Camp 2019 had 178 children and 38 staff over three weeks (Boarding and Day Camp)
    Responsible for marketing, finance, applications and sign-ups, hiring staff, lead training for staff and run the camp through the entirety of each camp.

  • 2015 - 2018
    Brighton College - Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

    Head of Year One / Housemaster

    Designed and implemented a Mathematics curriculum within the Junior School which has been shared with the Brighton College family of schools.
    Led the ‘Curriculum and Assessment’ team during the previous ADEC inspection which received an ‘Outstanding’ rating in all areas.
    Ran multiple CPD sessions to staff to introduce the Google Suite, and a Level 2 Google Educator.
    Chairman of the Common Room Committee where we ran many staff events with the highlight being an ‘Amazing Race’ style event for the induction for the staff at BCAA around Al Ain.
    Ran a range of House events leading the children and staff as Housemaster.
    Passion for teaching all subjects, specifically Mathematics, where Year 1 children consistently make rapid progress and are inspired by my teaching style.

  • 2012 - 2015
    St. Paul’s British School - São Paulo, Brazil

    Year Two / Year Three Class Teacher

    Taught the English National Curriculum core subjects.
    Planning and teaching the International Primary Curriculum for non-core subjects.
    High experience in teaching EAL students.
    NQT mentor.
    Assisted staff members with ActivPrimary and other areas of ICT.
    Created a link with a school in Liverpool, England, to work collaboratively on presentation skills between our two classes.
    Ran a weekly Year Three football team, Year Two mathematics club, and a girls Years 2-4 football club.
    A significant role in the whole school change in the implementation of ICT. A representative of the Primary section.
    A lead member of the team which contributed to the creation of IPC topic ‘Going for Goals’, during the 2014 football World Cup.

  • 2010 - 2012
    Chatsworth International School - Singapore

    Head of Year Four

    Taught the PYP curriculum and rotated responsibilities for planning all subjects.
    Co-developing the assessment and writing policy.
    Designing and developing our class Google site.
    Coordinating with management to ensure new and correct practices take place within my team.
    Ran the primary football team which represented the school in many inter-school tournaments.
    Taught a very culturally diverse student population.

  • 2008 - 2010
    ACG International School - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Director of Sport

    Managing the department and setting up the PYP curriculum in PE.
    Taught P.E. and Swimming from Kindergarten to Year Eight.
    Organised school team fixtures and three intercity tournaments.
    Attended weekly school management and student support meetings.
    Organised and ran monthly whole school assemblies.
    Assisting staff with a wider range of ICT needs.

  • 2007 - 2008
    ABC International School, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Year Four Class Teacher

    Taught the English National Curriculum core subjects.
    Assisted the Mathematics Coordinator in implementing the new mathematics framework.
    Head of the Social Committee for staff and students.
    Left after the first year to explore the possibility to set up my own school.

  • 2004 - 2007
    Applegarth Infant School - London, England

    Mathematics Coordinator/Year Two Classroom Teacher

    Taught the English National Curriculum core subjects.
    Ran the Mathematics department including implementing a new primary framework through staff training, monitoring planning, and observing the teaching of mathematics to ensure quality and ways to improve the subject.
    Presented SAT results and teaching procedures to school governors.
    Presented my SAT assessment procedure to other teachers in the borough.

Expertise

Curriculum Design

Portfolio

Honors & awards

  • 2018

    Google Educator - Level 2