Congratulations to our Heads of Department
The Master would like to congratulate the following staff members for being newly appointed to the heads of department roles for the next academic year. They bring a wealth of experience that will enhance the knowledge, understanding and wellbeing of all pupils at Wellington College International Hangzhou.
Head of Senior English
After completing both a BA and an MA in English Literature and Media Studies teacher with a PGCE from Leicester University 20 years ago, Miss Abigail Cutts qualified as an English and Media Studies teacher. She began her career teaching in Leicester and then returned to teach in her hometown of Sheffield. She held the positions of Deputy Head of English and Whole School Literacy Coordinator for many years before moving to Shanghai to teach English at Hiba School. After an enjoyable two years in Shanghai with her young daughter, she was delighted to accept the role of Head of English at Wellington International Hangzhou and looks forward to developing the English department within the school.
Abigail’s passion for English is best described as the belief that, at its simplest, the study of English is about teaching how humans use language to communicate their ideas and feelings to each other and it involves exploring how we, as human beings, connect with others in a meaningful way. Reading widely is at the heart of studying English, and Abigail is enthusiastic about helping students discover their interests so that they can begin their own ‘reading journey’ that will support lifelong learning.
Abigail enjoys spending time with her daughter and travelling within China when not working. She has been studying Mandarin Chinese for almost two years now and hopes to continue to develop her Chinese reading and speaking skills in Hangzhou.
Head of Creative Arts
Ms Amy Tham hailed from Singapore and was a scholar with Singapore's Ministry of Education. She is qualified as a teacher and has taught in various prestigious and top-ranked secondary schools. She graduated from the Nanyang Technological University with a Bachelor in Art majoring in Music Education and received her teaching license from the National Institute of Education in Singapore. Later, she undertook a Master's in Educational Leadership from the Framingham State University in the US.
With a varied teaching experience in the Cambridge and IB curriculum, she believes in the power of the Arts to engage, enrich, and empower lives. With close to 15 years in the educational landscape, her previous positions include Head of Arts, Music and Drama teacher, International English teacher and Director of Performing Arts. This will be her 6th year in China as an international educator, and she looks forward to joining the world-class Wellington family. Her adventure in China has brought her to Beijing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou, a jewel of cultural heritages and natural beauty.
Amy is a multi-instrumentalist and plays the piano, clarinet, drums and gamelan. Her passions include music composition and directing musicals, and she has explored over 70 countries to date. When not working, Amy enjoys backpacking and exploring the unknown using a drone, DJI being her favourite brand to fly. She also enjoys the laughter of children and watching the sunrise and sunset.
Head of Primary English
Growing up surrounded by young children played a crucial part in Paige’s career choice. This was then confirmed when placed on work experience in a nearby Primary School. Her eyes were opened to the difference teachers genuinely made in the lives of young people. Paige then began her journey into teaching in 2014 at the University of Northampton, where she completed her B.A. (Hons) degree in Primary Education with an English specialism. In 2017, Paige began her teaching career in Berkshire, England, working in Year 2. Since then, she has taught in years 3 and 4, has held subject leader roles in Reading and R.E. and completed her National Professional Qualification in Middle Leadership.
Paige believes in supporting children to grow and develop as independent, strong learners whilst also preparing them for the ever-changing world they live in. She is passionate about teaching and learning and will always find new ways to support and motivate the children she teaches. Paige is an avid reader, can often be found baking and enjoys being active. She is excited to join the Wellington community and looks forward to the new opportunities and adventures that Wellington College and Hangzhou offer.
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