Leadership Team
Jane Foxcroft: Principal West Island School
Jane Foxcroft was educated and brought up in the UK attending a local girls’ grammar school. She graduated from Sheffield University after reading English Literature and gained a PGCSE at Nottingham University in English and Drama teaching. Jane later attended Oxford University to study for an MSc in Education gaining a distinction.
Jane taught in the UK before being appointed to Island School in the 1980s to teach English and Drama and to become Head of House in the pastoral system.
Jane joined WIS at its inception in 1991 as Head of English and has remained at the school since being promoted to Vice Principal and became Principal in 2006.
Jane’s role at the school is to lead the school to create a dynamic and integrated school vision. Jane is also responsible and accountable for teaching and learning standards, curriculum and extracurricular design, recruitment of staff and students, school culture, ethos and goal setting. She works with other ESF schools to promote excellence within ESF and in promoting her school as an inclusive, international community school where every student is valued.
Robert Stitch Vice Principal - Teaching and Learning: Holistic Learning
Rob was educated at the Universities of Leeds and Sheffield. He began teaching in 1982 at a mixed Comprehensive School near Leeds. After two years of teaching in the UK Rob moved to the Bahamas as a Teacher of History. During his six Years at Queens College, Nassau Bahamas he was promoted to the position of Head of History. From 1991- 1995 Rob took some time out from the teaching profession to run the business owned by his wife’s family. In 1995 he and his family moved back to the UK to take up a teaching post in his hometown, Leeds. During the four years back in the UK Rob moved from Priesthorpe School in Leeds to The City Technology College in Bradford. In 1999 Rob moved with his family to Hong Kong to take up employment as Head of Humanities at West Island School. He was promoted to the Leadership Team in 2005. Specific responsibilities include the following:
- Curriculum design Post 16
- Careers Related Education
- Community links and Development
- Overview of School Performances
- Parent voice
- Risk Assessment overview
- Student Driven Events
- Line Leadership: Creative Arts, Sports, Dynasty,
Careers, CAS,TOK,EE, Vocational Education
Paul ToughVice Principal – Teaching and Learning: Reflection on Learning
Paul is a native of the Rhondda Valley in South Wales. Following secondary education through the medium of Welsh at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen, Paul followed his passion for History, leading to a BA (hons), MA and finally a PGCSE at the University of Wales College Swansea. Paul began his teaching career as a History tutor at the University of Glamorgan before securing his first secondary school position at Llandrindod Wells High School in Powys. In 1999, Paul moved to Hong Kong where he initially taught at Island School. Since joining West Island School in 2002, Paul has been Head of Year, Head of School, Assistant Principal and most recently Vice Principal. Paul’s specific responsibilities include:
- Guidance and Achievement
- Tutoring and Parental Links
- Assessment, Recording and Reporting
- Developing Inquiry
- School Self Evaluation Processes
- Admissions
- Staff induction
- Assemblies
Jacob Martin Vice Principal - Teaching and Learning: Personalised Learning
Jacob has an international background and during his childhood moved around attending international schools in Beijing, Moscow and also comprehensive schools in London and finally a boarding school in Hampshire. Jacob completed his studies with a BSc in Chemistry from Bristol University and a teaching diploma from Kings College London.
Jacob began his teaching career in schools in London before moving to join the ESF in 2003 as a science teacher at King George V School in Homantin. Jacob was promoted to Head of Chemistry at KGV before moving to take up a Head of Science role at West Island School in 2006. Jacob was promoted to the leadership team in August 2008.
Jacob is very interested in the personalised learning agenda and in developing pathways for all students to achieve their full potential at West Island. He also has an interest in holistic curriculum design and is developing a new diploma for the lower and middle schools to compliment the upper school diplomas.
Specific responsibilities include the following:-
- Student Data
- Inclusion Team
- ICT infrastructure
- 1-2-1 Laptops for learning programme
- Middle Years Diploma
Ian Clayton
Vice Principal-Teaching and Learning-Developing Excellence
Ian went to Nottingham Trent University to do a degree in European Studies majoring in history and international relations and minored in French and he gained a BA honours degree. When he left university he had a gap year. Unsure what to do he flirted with several jobs, namely door to door book salesman, insurance salesman, tax inspector, community sports leader and also a travel company representative in the south of France.
After the year he took a Post Graduate Certificate of Education at the University of East Anglia. He then worked at the Norwich in the UK where he became head of history and senior house tutor before earning a promotion and working at Old Buckenham High School, also in Norfolk. Throughout the 10 years he spent there he was promoted to head of humanities, then head of house and then senior teacher status. He worked for a year at the University of East Anglia’s Education Faculty teaching on the PGCE course there. After 16 years in and around East Anglia, he left to take up the position of founding head of senior school at The British School Manila in April 2001. At that time the school had 35 students in the senior school. That has since grown to over 300 with a successful GCSE and IB programme with students leaving to go to the best and most prestigious universities worldwide. Now 8 years later he is moving on to be a Vice Principal at the West Island School in Hong Kong. Specific responsibilities include the following:
- Continuing professional development
- Action Research
- Performance management / Mentoring
- NQT support
- International mindedness/Language Policy
- Overview of Staffing, timetable
- Option choice process
- Cover and supply/ diary
David ChristmasBuiness Manager
David was educated and brought up in the UK attending a local comprehensive school and studied Accountancy and Finance at Birmingham City University.
In 1991, David commenced employment with a UK Chartered Accountants’ practice where he completed his training contract and qualified as an accountant. He is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
He has spent 17 years working in the UK accountancy sector and moved to Hong Kong in 2008.
In 2009, David embarked on further studies and achieved the ACCA Diploma in International Financial Reporting. He was appointed as Business Manager in August 2009.
Staff responsibilities include:
- School Buildings and environment
- School accounting and budgeting
- Revenue generation
