I have been teaching for over 15 years and teaching is and always will be a huge part of my life. I have taught all year groups from Pre-Nursery to Year Six, including two years as a specialist PE Teacher. I place a high regard on strong academic performance, but my main aim as Head of Campus is to develop students who will be 'good people', who demonstrate resilience, leadership, excellent communication skills and an ability to work effectively as part of a team.
I am originally from Bolton and still follow my home town team 'Bolton Wanderers'. Football is my number three passion after my family and school. I feel extremely fortunate to be working in Moscow and at ISM. I originally worked at ISM from 2010 to 2015 and after only one year away I returned in 2016. 'I have the best job in the world' is a statement that students and parents will often hear me say.
Away from school, I enjoy spending time with my son and exploring the many parks that Moscow has to offer. I also enjoy running, squash, tennis and swimming.
Research shows that confident students are more likely to succeed academically.
In fact, several science-backed studies cite self-confidence as the number one predictor of academic achievement. Researchers found that students with greater confidence were more willing to learn and challenge themselves. They were also more motivated, resilient, and capable of dealing with adversity.
At the International School of Moscow (ISM), our job is to build and nurture positive self-esteem in children. But what is confidence? And how does it affect academic performance?
