how we teach

How We Teach | Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong-01 Tertiary Page Header-NAISHK_HongKong_LamTin
Our highly qualified teachers at NAIS Hong Kong have a wealth of international experience that they bring from the UK and overseas. They build a good relationship with every child and serve as experts at tailoring lessons, knowing exactly how to guide your child to success.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT AT NAIS HONG KONG

Getting to know each child in-depth and helping them flourish is our teachers’ forte. As highly qualified educators excited to join the ranks of Nord Anglia Education, they all hold UK Qualified Teacher Status or the equivalent, and many hold a specialised master’s degree, too.

Their qualifications – in addition to their robust experience with the English National Curriculum and International Baccalaureate – ensure they’re ready to deliver personalised lessons of an excellent global standard.

What’s more, they have all the flexibility and tools to challenge and support each child exactly where they need it. With their dedication to building good relationships, they help each child reach their full academic potential.  
primary
  • SENIOR LEADERSHIP 

NAIS HONG KONG TEACHERS AND STAFF

Our team has outstanding international school teachers, who enhance NAIS Hong Kong with their global experience. Experts in our curricula, they shape opportunities for students of all ages to follow their distinct interests and guide each towards their passion and greatest ability.
How We Teach | Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong-Feature Cards Tabs-Principal - NAIS Hong Kong
Mr. K. Duncan
Principal

Kenny has over three decades’ experience as an educator, specialising in academic excellence, collaboration, and community building. He’s a highly experienced school leader and served as a principal of two other schools, prior to joining NAIS Hong Kong.

Kenny completed his teacher training in Scotland and holds a Bachelor of Education from The University of Edinburgh.  He also holds a Master’s in Education from Bath University in England, where he specialised in educational leadership, partnership, and the development of educational networks. He completed his National Professional Qualification for Headship in 2011.

He formerly served as the Principal of Kingsbridge Community College, a highly successful school ranked as ‘outstanding’ in the UK and recognised as a leading hub of innovation and educational best practice. His school became established as an EEF Research School, and in 2019, was selected as a ‘National Teaching Schools Hub’, one of only six schools in the UK to benchmark improvements in the quality of education and the professional development of teachers and school leaders. 

Prior to his roles within school leadership, Kenny was formerly an adviser to the UK Department for Education and served as part of the development team responsible for the creation of the National Curriculum for England and Wales. Throughout his career, he has raised educational standards in schools and helped students achieve offers at top universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.

A pioneer in teaching with technology, Kenny led collaborations with leaders in industry and academia – including the University of Bristol, Rolls-Royce, and British Aerospace – to design an innovative STEAM programme for primary and secondary schools across the UK. These collaborations boosted teaching techniques to educate UK students for the future, ensuring they would acquire the skills and mind-sets to thrive in our changing world.

Kenny is a strong advocate for community involvement and parent collaboration. He considers this crucial in supporting young people throughout their academic journey. He is an enthusiastic member and supporter of our vibrant PTA, encouraging wide opportunities for parents to collaborate and participate in the life of our school.

He is also an avid lover of the outdoors and a keen windsurfer, paddle boarder, and cyclist.  When he’s not on the water or on a bike, he and his wife thoroughly enjoy hiking on local trails and enjoying the variety and diversity of life in Hong Kong.
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Mrs. S. Harley
Deputy Principal and Head of School
Sarah began her teaching career in 1996 at The Pointer School, an Independent Prep School in London. Before moving into Senior Leadership, she taught across all three primary key stages and had taken on additional areas of responsibility.
In 2001, Sarah became Deputy Head and continued in this role, while maintaining a teaching responsibility and preparing the school for Inspections until 2011. She then moved to become Head of Preparatory School at Babington House School in Kent, England, before leaving this post to relocate to Hong Kong in December 2013 with her husband and two children.

Sarah is Deputy Principal of NAIS Hong Kong and Head of Campus Lam Tin. As a highly skilled and experienced international and independent school leader, Sarah has been a founding member of the NAIS Hong Kong team.

Sarah’s professional qualifications include a LLB (Hons) as well as a PGCE (IoE). She has completed both UK and international leadership courses through IAPS and COBIS, and she has also recently completed her ISI Inspector training.
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Dr. K. Erricker
Assistant Director, NAU Asia
Dr Kate Erricker is the Assistant Director of Curriculum for the Nord Anglia Education team. She joined in January 2019 and is based at NAIS Hong Kong.
Prior to joining Nord Anglia Education, Kate was a school improvement advisor for Hampshire Local Authority. In this role, she worked closely with teachers and leadership teams to improve outcomes in primary and secondary schools across the UK.

Kate originally trained as an English teacher in the UK and has 18 years’ experience in education. She earned a Master’s and PhD in Education, specialising in teachers’ professional development.
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Mrs. F. Thorndike
Head of Secondary
Fiona joined NAISHK in August 2023 as Head of Secondary and is an experienced Senior Leader and Headteacher who has driven academic improvements and innovation in London schools.
Fiona joined NAISHK in August 2023 as Head of Secondary and is an experienced Senior Leader and Headteacher who has driven academic improvements and innovation in London schools. She has worked as part of United Learning, the United Kingdom’s largest academy trust and specialised in leading Teaching and Learning and Professional Development. Fiona is a Design Technology teaching specialist and a Future Leaders graduate from the National College for Teaching and Leadership, Nottingham UK.
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Mr. S. MacKinnon
Deputy Head of Secondary and Science Teacher
Scott has over 10 years’ international teaching experience, working in the UK, Middle East, and South East Asia. He is a senior chemistry exam marker and a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
As one of the founding members at NAIS Hong Kong, working within both pastoral and curriculum middle leader positions within the school, Scott has established an innovative curriculum that allows for a personalised learning approach. Throughout secondary school, Scott has helped to guide outstanding teaching and learning practice, relevant option pathways, intervention, and the use of data and feedback.

Scott’s professional qualifications include a Master of Science in Management, Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry, and a PGDE from the University of Glasgow.  

In his spare time, he loves all things sporty, including football, squash, and golf. He has also been enjoying trekking and hill walking.
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Mrs. R. Hanson
Head of Early Years
Ruth has over 20 years’ teaching experience in education, including over 10 years in senior leadership. She is deeply committed to delivering outstanding education and care for children, their families, and the colleagues she works with.
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Ruth holds a Master of Arts in Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Primary Education from the University of Wales, Cardiff. After finishing her master’s, Ruth moved with her family to London from her home in Wales to work at one of the UK’s leading children’s centres, The Thomas Coram Centre, which was also the UK’s first designated Early Excellence Centre. During Ruth’s seven years there, she became Assistant Head of Centre and received ‘Outstanding’ grading from OFSTED twice.

 

In 2009, Ruth then became an Early Years Consultant at The Children’s Hospital School at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Working alongside the leadership team, she set up and developed a Children’s Centre for patients under five, their siblings, and parents. The centre was a huge success and a first for children’s hospitals around the world.

 

Ruth then joined Nord Anglia Education in 2012 at The British International School in Shanghai, Puxi. For six years, she served as part of their Senior Leadership Team, developing their Early Years and Key Stage 1 departments as Assistant Head of Primary.

 

Ruth is now Head of Campus at Nord Anglia International Pre-School, Sai Kung and is thrilled to be work alongside the NAIS Hong Kong team. Here, she develops outstanding pre-school education and oversees the ASN and EAL departments across the whole school.

 

Ruth lives in Hong Kong with her husband, Abby, and their two sons, Ben and Morgan.

How We Teach | Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong-Feature Cards Tabs-Image_NAISHK_HongKong_SLT_Sandra Burton
Ms. S. Burton
Director of Admissions and Marketing
Sandra joined NAIS Hong Kong in 2023, having previously worked in marketing roles across the globe, including our Nord Anglia Education schools in Abu Dhabi and Budapest. The friendly face you'll meet when you get in touch with us, Sandra is passionate about the school, the opportunities we offer, and our wonderful city.

Sandra started her career in the luxury travel industry in 1989, before joining Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts as Sales Manager.

In 2014, Sandra and her family relocated to Abu Dhabi in the UAE, where she was appointed Head of Admissions and Marketing at a Nord Anglia Education school. After four years, Sandra returned to the UK to embark on a career in the hospitality industry.

Sandra joined another Nord Anglia School, British International School Budapest in 2021 as the Director of Admissions and Marketing. During her time with the school, she oversaw a period of unprecedented growth and advancement by ensuring each family received the personalised care and attention they need.

As our new Director of Admissions and Marketing in NAIS Hong Kong and working alongside her fabulous team, Sandra will create a warm, welcoming admissions journey that’s tailored to your needs.

In her spare time, Sandra enjoys exploring new places with her two children.

OUR TEACHERS’ HIGH QUALITY

Beyond qualifications and experience, how else do we see our teachers' strength? We see it in the classroom through their positive relationships with their students – something 97% of our parents confirm. 

Our teachers foster safe and supportive relationships, where each child feels safe to make mistakes and excited to find creative ways to solve challenges. Our supportive approach allows each child to thrive, as they can try new things, follow their interests, and discover their passions, cheered on by expert teachers.

Our teachers' excellence also shows in their loyalty to NAIS Hong Kong. We build a strong base of educators who grow with us through the years, and they stay for an average of five years – although many stay for much longer. This continuity builds robust expertise, and we love to promote many of our staff to senior positions at our school.
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OUR TEACHING AND LEARNING STANDARDS

As part of the Nord Anglia family, our teaching and learning standards are second to none at NAIS Hong Kong. While our team ensures we uphold the highest standards, we’re also supported globally by Nord Anglia’s Education Team, who drive our success in academics, quality assurance, accreditation, and safeguarding.
  • We give our teachers a comprehensive induction upon joining NAIS HK to fully understand our expectations, policies, and procedures, as part of Nord Anglia.
  • We strengthen them with the award-winning online training platform Nord Anglia University – filled with world-class resources, best practices, and hundreds of courses.
  • Subject specialists from Apple, MIT, and Juilliard boost our teachers with their expert trainings and exclusive resources, equipping them with confidence.
  • We continually invest in other professional development opportunities, making every measure of our school – from quality assurance to safeguarding – first rate.
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TEACHER-LED TECH

TEACHING WITH TECH

We’re always investing in our teachers and in new technologies at NAIS Hong Kong. Our global collaboration with Apple allows our teachers to attend the Nord Anglia Apple Learning Academy, for example, where they stay at the forefront of best teaching practices with the latest technologies. 

Our teachers embed technology in many of our students' experiences – including VR and AR, interactive devices, 1:1 iPads, 3D printers, and more – especially for STEAM learning. They focus on encouraging skills around innovation, creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
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CONNECTED WORLDWIDE

GLOBAL CAMPUS

On Global Campus, Nord Anglia’s state-of-the-art education technology platform, over 11,000 teaching experts across more than 80 Nord Anglia schools worldwide connect. This helps them share best practice, and for our Global Subject Leads to uphold the best teaching developments across Early Years, Primary, and Secondary.

Global Campus complements Nord Anglia University, where our teachers also swap strategies, techniques, and resources.
DISCOVER GLOBAL CAMPUS

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING WITH YOU!

Joining NAIS Hong Kong is exciting step towards helping your child discover their passion. Enquire now and our admissions team will be glad to assist you.

Enquire Today
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