Staff Profile: Jon Hughes

Staff Profile: Jon Hughes Each week we will feature a member of staff across all areas of the school including teachers, admin staff, support staff and more, to get to know members of our school family a little better. Our profile this week is Jon Hughes, a Year 6 teacher. Each week we will feature a member of staff across all areas of the school including teachers, admin staff, support staff and more, to get to know members of our school family a little better. Our profile this week is Jon Hughes, a Year 6 teacher.

I am from Birmingham, which is an incredibly diverse city in the centre of England. Famous for its rich industrial history and for having more canals than Venice (this is also my favourite fact I like to tell people), the city remains a special place in the world to me as this is where the majority of my family and friends are located. I was born and raised there, before leaving to study English Language at Swansea University. It was during my time that I was studying that I discovered my passion for teaching. As a result, I continued my studies in Oxford where I gained my Post Graduate Certificate in Education. 

After leaving Oxford, I began my teaching career back in Birmingham. I spent 5 years teaching in Year 5 & 6 before becoming an Assistant Head Teacher. My role included supporting Teaching & Learning across the school, primarily developing the teaching practice of student teachers and newly qualified teachers. Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed my time teaching in Birmingham, I still aspired to travel the world. Later that year, I packed my bags and set off alone on an adventure that would take me to countries such as Brazil, Sri Lanka, India, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia and many more. Highlights of my trip included camping overnight in the Amazon Rainforest, trekking to The Lost City in Santa Marta and seeing the Taj Mahal in India. I also managed to visit hospitals in 3 different continents on my trip, which was not part of my itinerary.

My final destination of my year long trip was the UAE. I enjoyed my time here so much that I knew that it would not be the last time I visited this wonderful country. In August last year, my wife and I took the first steps of our new adventure and moved to Abu Dhabi and to become part of the BIS Abu Dhabi community. 

In addition to travelling, I am also very passionate about reading and sport. This can be confirmed by the children in my class, who have witnessed first-hand my passion when speaking about my beloved Birmingham City, or more importantly, which book to read next! Reading is a form of escapism and allows you to travel anywhere in the world, to any period of time and experience things you can only imagine. As a teacher, I love nothing more than passing on my love of reading to all students and seeing them become engrossed in their new book. 

Since moving here, I have loved every moment of being part of BIS Abu Dhabi and I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment I have spent with my Year 6 class. I am excited to see what next year brings and meeting even more of the wonderful students who are part of the school.

Jon Hughes