Meet BSKL’s new Head of Secondary: Mr Jeffrey Ison

BSKL’s new Head of Secondary, Mr Jeffrey Ison, has a vision: to make BSKL’s secondary school an outstanding one, guided by the four pillars – Learning, Community, Experiences and Futures.

“The best schools combine genuine care with high expectations, creating environments where every child is known, valued and challenged to achieve more than they thought possible,” he said recently.

 Mr Ison gained his teaching qualification at the University of Birmingham in 2007, and then started his teaching career as a history teacher in a school. After a short stint as Head of History in a second school in Birmingham, he moved to Malaysia in 2013 with his wife and was employed by Tenby International School as a History teacher and Head of Year. He later completed his National Professional Qualification of Headship, cementing his leadership skills to build an excellent school based on his four pillars.

His experience includes serving as Campus Principal at Tenby International School at Setia Eco Park in 2021, where he oversaw an international school and a Malaysian national school with a student population of 2000.

Previously, he was Head of Secondary on the same campus.

Mr Ison said he learnt that, even when managing a for-profit school, the school should not stray from the four pillars of education, which he lives by.

“If you want a school to be successful, you still need to focus on my four pillars - Learning, Community, Experiences and Futures, and you still need to be completely committed to doing what is right for the children.  No matter the marketing or the fees, this is what families want, and this is what I have always strived to do,” he said.

He further explained the four pillars as:-

·      Learning – outstanding and challenging learning

·      Community – a community that supports all stakeholders and makes people feel like they belong

·      Experiences – experiences that go beyond the classroom, developing skills needed

·      Futures – one that prepares young people for the future they deserve.

“I want to continue developing a community by listening to all stakeholders, being honest and working with everyone to find out where we are strong and where we need to improve,” he said.

Besides leading schools, Mr Ison is a keen sportsperson who enjoys playing football and regularly follows other sports.  He admitted that he has grown accustomed to being in Malaysia and has started a family here with his wife. They are blessed with two daughters.

He also said that reading the book 1984 had a profound impact on him.

“It makes me want to question what we think we know, and always look for humanity in situations, although I prefer to think there can be a more positive outcome than the book suggests,” he said.

Moving forward, Mr Ison said he would like to be visible and listen to his BSKL secondary colleagues, so that they can work together to build a tight-knit community.