Richard Thompson
MA, BA (Hons), PGCE
Having completed both his BA and MA in Theology and Religious Studies at The University of Leeds, York St. John, Richard worked for The Royal Household, and The College of St. George, Windsor Castle, for seven years. Following on from this exciting chapter, he chose to pursue his long-held ambition to teach, and completed his PGCE in Birmingham in 2013, where he subsequently went on to teach in a culturally diverse inner-city school. Teaching across Key Stage 2, he took on various leadership roles including: English and Reading Lead, EYFS – Year 6; Upper Key Stage 2 Phase Leader; and Teach First and PGCE mentor. Moving on from this much-cherished school community, Richard embarked upon his first international post, joining BISS in 2017 as a Year 3 classroom teacher. Keen to contribute to our BISS community further, Richard took on the roles of Year Leader and English Lead for Primary before joining the Primary Senior Leadership Team as Assistant Head of Primary in 2019 and, latterly, as Deputy Head of Primary in 2021.
As a teacher, Richard strives continuously to ensure that all students are happy and engaged in their learning journey, not only through innovative curriculum design and purposeful scaffolding, but through endeavouring to meet every student ‘where they are’, as unique individuals. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team supporting teachers across Primary, Richard also holds this pastoral tenet as central to enabling teachers to deliver ambitious and meaningful learning experiences for all BISS students. Taking on the role of Deputy Head of Primary, he is excited by the opportunity to further foster professional collaboration amongst our dynamic and committed teaching team.
In his free time, when able to visit the UK, Richard continues to enjoy working in a freelance capacity for Royal Collection Education, relaying exciting pockets of history to young audiences and their families through some of the nation’s most treasured paintings and artifacts. He also enjoys reading, walking, running, riding and trying to learn Mandarin; however, he does confess to not always finding the latter pastime the easiest of endeavours!