Wellington Today Wellington Today 2018 en | Page 42
2018
WE ARE WELLINGTON
INTRODUCING
THE FOUNDING TEAM OF
WELLINGTON COLLEGE
BILINGUAL SHANGHAI
Stella Zhou
Chinese Principal
Wellington College Bilingual Shanghai
Stella graduated from East China Normal
University with a bachelor’s degree in
Chinese language and literature and a
master’s degree in education.
Gerard MacMahon
Executive Master
Wellington College Shanghai
Gerard MacMahon has been appointed
Executive Master for Wellington College
Shanghai after twelve years as a school
principal in England and the Middle East
and one year as the Master of Wellington
College International Shanghai. He will be
leading both the International and Bilingual
schools of Wellington College in Shanghai.
In 2004 he was appointed head teacher of
Sheldon School in Chippenham, Wiltshire.
In 2008, Sheldon was judged outstanding
in all 38 inspection categories by Ofsted.
Gerard was made a National Leader
of Education in 2010, and Sheldon was
identified as one of the top 100 schools
in England when becoming a Teaching
School in 2011.
Gerard was born in Dublin (something
he has in common with the Duke of
Wellington) and raised in Bristol. He
graduated in economics from the London
School of Economics and trained as a
teacher at UCL’s Institute of Education.
He was the founding head of sixth form at
Balcarras School, Cheltenham. He moved
to Qatar in 2012 to be headmaster of
Al Khor International School, one of the
world’s largest international schools with
over 4,000 students. In both 2016 and
2017, Gerard was named one of the ten
most influential international school heads
in China.
Vanessa Szucs-Hussain Yuki Gong
Head of Early Years
Wellington College Bilingual Shanghai Deputy Head of Early Years
Wellington College Bilingual Shanghai
Graduating from Edinburgh with a BSc
in podiatric medicine, Vanessa practiced
biomechanics and paediatrics for the
National Health Service in the North
East of England. During this time, Vanessa
studied for a PGCE and following her
appointment as lecturer at Durham
School of Podiatric Medicine moved in
to an academic role teaching honours
degree students in the field of human
growth, development and paediatric
disorders. Holding a strong desire to
see personal and professional growth,
Vanessa led a team of academics to write
the first foundation degree for assistant
practitioners in podiatry (UK). After graduating from Fudan University
law school and completing a degree
in Chinese language and literature
at East China Normal University,
Yuki Gong became involved in early
childhood education. With six years
in public kindergarten, five years in
bilingual kindergarten and nine years
in international schools, she gathered a
wealth of experience through twenty
years’ teaching practice, as well as a solid
knowledge of Eastern and Western
education philosophies. She uses her
expertise to lead the teaching practice
at Wellington College Bilingual Shanghai,
aiming to provide personalised and holistic
education for every pupil.
After 15 years in Higher Education,
Vanessa relocated with her family to Abu
Dhabi, UAE where she retrained in Early
Years education and management of Early
Years settings. After five years in the UAE,
Vanessa moved further East to be an active
part in the changing educational landscape
within China. The opportunity to afford
children an inspiring and current early years
education underpins her motivation whilst
bringing teams of like-minded practitioners
together to provide excellence in early
years’ education forms the underpinning
ethos of her work. Wellington College
Bilingual Shanghai (early years) holds
shared values and vision at the very heart
of its culture and this, to date is Vanessa’s
greatest achievement.
Yuki’s experience in leadership has
resulted in the ability to create a safe,
fun and enabling learning environment
where the awareness of responsibility and
autonomy is stimulated among teachers
and pupils. She believes that building
mutual trust and respect between pupils,
parents and colleagues is at the heart of
an inspiring early childhood provision.
Only by promoting playing and exploring,
active learning, creativity and critical
thinking can we support our children to
grow up to become effective learners.
Prior to joining Wellington, Stella has
enjoyed more than 10 years teaching
experience in YCIS-Shanghai as a Chinese
teacher and a class co-teacher, working
closely with international teachers. Stella
has also worked with her colleagues
to develop an online tool for teaching
Chinese as an additional language, and has
compiled textbooks and workbooks for
publication. In 2014, Stella was appointed
as the founding Chinese principal of a
bilingual school established by Yew Chung
Education Foundation. Together with the
expatriate principal, Stella led the founding
academic team to explore and implement
a bilingual curriculum for Chinese pupils.
Stella is a passionate educator who is
deeply aligned to the philosophy and
ethos of Wellington College in providing
a truly holistic education that also delivers
excellent exam results. She hopes to
bring all her experience to Wellington
and is keen to establish a world class
bilingual school in China, which will bring
quality bilingual education for more
Chinese families.
Away from work, Stella enjoys traveling
and when she does have a break, she
pursues her lifetime goal of developing
her appreciation of music.
Laura Ge
Laura graduated from Dalian University
of Foreign Languages, majoring in English
language and literature. Early in her
teaching career, she taught English at
Shandong University, one of the top
universities in China. She was elected as
the ‘Young Backbone Teacher’ for her
creative problem solving and tireless
work ethic. She has been devoted to
international education for over ten years.
Laura joined Yew Chung International
School of Shanghai in 2008. Since
then, she successfully held the posts
of Chinese language teacher, Chinese
studies subject leader and Chinese year
group coordinator. In 2015 she worked
as a founding member of the leadership
team at Yew Wah International Education
School, a bilingual sister school founded by
Yew Chung Education Foundation. Laura
was a key contributor in the process of
setting up the primary and secondary
curriculum and other managerial
processes. Laura believes that the goal
of education is to motivate pupils to be
lifelong learners and help them become
the very best young adults they can be.
consecutive primary schools in the county
of Worcestershire, United Kingdom.
Paul joined Great Malvern Primary
School, Worcestershire in 2009, leading
a successful period of change and
development which saw the school
move upwards from a ‘failing’ category
to ‘good’. During his tenure, the school
excelled at sport securing a National
Primary School Gold Level award. Paul
also demonstrated his internationalism
by forging links with a school in Tanzania,
Japan and six schools across Europe.
Paul’s hobbies include travelling and
history. Both Paul and his family have
travelled widely, visiting Japan, India and
South-East Asia, Africa, North America
and Europe. Paul is now looking forward
to exploring China and its
near neighbours.
Outside of work, Laura has a wide range
of interests, including music, travelling
and reading.
Maggie Zhou
Deputy head of Primary
Wellington College Bilingual Shanghai
Maggie Zhou graduated from East China
Normal University with a BA and MA.
Paul Jackson-Read
Head of Primary
Wellington College Bilingual Shanghai
Born in Kingston-Upon Thames, England,
Paul started his professional career as a
property surveyor working for NatWest
bank and London Regional Transport.
He discovered a passion for teaching
while working as an EFL teacher in Japan
and returned to England to train as a
primary school teacher at Birmingham
City University, graduating in 1996. Paul
secured his first deputy headship within
eighteen months of qualifying as a teacher
and attained the National Professional
Qualification for Headship in 2007. He
has successfully led improvement at three
She has over 20 years’ experience in
teaching and school management. Prior
to joining Wellington College Bilingual
Shanghai, Maggie worked in Shanghai
as the Head of International Education
Department of Shengda Garden Primary
School. Her passion in exploring Eastern
and Western cultures inspired her to
develop the best bilingual curriculum for
Chinese pupils by combining the strength
of Chinese compulsory education
and the concepts of collaboration and
investigation promoted in Western
education philosophies. She genuinely
looks forward to working with the
talented Wellington team of local and
expatriate educators to establish a world-
leading bilingual school in China.
Head of Junior High
Wellington College Bilingual Shanghai
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