Meet our new Head of Primary
Alastair Phillips
Head of Primary
It is a new year, and with it, we welcome our new Head of Primary, Alastair Phillips. Mr Phillips brings with him a wealth of knowledge and the ambition to help make us one of the leading international schools in the world. He has served as a headteacher for 16 years in the UK and as a school improvement consultant, advising schools in the UK and abroad in performance management, safeguarding audits and evaluating the quality of teaching and learning. As such, he is passionate about improving pupil outcomes and doing all he can to create an environment where children are safe, happy and successful. Here is in his own words.
What attracted you to Wellington both as an educator and a parent?
My journey to Wellington is a little bit different really because I was invited to visit here in February 2023 as part of the annual review team. And I was just blown away by what an amazing school this is and what a fantastic city Shanghai is. Following that, I had the opportunity to do some work at Wellington in the UK. Then in May of the same year, I was invited to go to Wellington Bangkok and carry out a review. By the time I'd done all of those things, I had a pretty good feel for Wellington. Wellington has an aspiration to be one of the best schools in the world, and I think that is a very attainable dream.
I'm also here with my family. We have a daughter who has graduated and will attend Manchester University next year, and we have two boys — one in year 12 and one in year 10. So, I'm here as a member of our Senior Leadership Team but also as a parent. Watching the boys get involved in the wider life of the school and hearing them talk so enthusiastically about what they've been learning in class and their co-curricular activities has been very exciting. They've taken to the school quite quickly. They absolutely love it here.
What were some of the things that impressed you when you first visited?
In the Primary School, there are some really exciting approaches to how we teach children. Rather than just giving them facts and figures to remember, we’re showing them how to draw links between what they learn and to think for themselves. We're teaching children how to learn and how to make sense of the world around them, and that's really powerful. I was also impressed by the facilities on offer here — that amazing theatre, the sports facilities and all the opportunities that children have.
How have your previous career experiences prepared you for this position?
I was headteacher at my previous school for 10 years. I was a headteacher of another school for six years before that. So, I’ve been a head teacher for 16 years. Prior to that, I was a school improvement advisor, so I've worked for the local educational authorities. What I've always been really passionate about is school improvement. So I've gained a deep understanding of school structures and processes and the importance of having a clear vision and strong values.
What are your key priorities for your first year as Head of Primary?
The school's at an interesting stage now. We've recently moved from the Prep model to the Primary model, so what's needed right now is someone who can come in and consolidate things and move them forward. We are already in a great place, though, so this is not about me coming in and bringing in big changes. What I want to do is celebrate the great work that takes place here already, hopefully with the experience I've gained over the years, I can just add extra value in terms of looking after people, our systems and our processes.
What do you enjoy most about working with young learners?
It’s something that I always wanted to do. My degree was a Bachelor of Arts with Qualified Teacher Status alongside it, and I've always really enjoyed it. I've got lots of friends who work outside of education and some of them are incredibly successful in their careers, but their top priorities are always their children. So, I've got the most privileged job, because I get the opportunity to have a positive impact on everybody’s children, not just my own.
What advice do you have for new Primary pupils and parents this year?
I think our motto says it all: ‘Be You. Be More.’ I think it's quite powerful. It means we celebrate who we are and all that we can be.
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