Your Name: Nicholas Prockter
Job Title: Head of Lower School at Harrow International School, Bangkok
What is your nationality and background?
I am from London where I have spent most of my life, until now. Having enjoyed a career as a Primary School Head Teacher in inner city London for the past 10 years, my family and I made the move to Bangkok in August last year. We love travelling and decided to embark upon a new adventure here in South East Asia. So far it’s everything we expected, and more.
What is your profession?
I am a Head Teacher – currently the new Head of Lower School at Harrow International School Bangkok.
What are the key skills and responsibilities of this role?
I manage the primary section of a large and ever-growing, successful international school. This involves ensuring that our teachers deliver a curriculum that is exciting, purposeful and academically challenging. As part of a large organisation, I use a lot of skills ranging from managing strategically to communicating with parents and pupils. Working with children, you really need a lot of empathy, a sense of humour and, most of all, flexibility as you never quite know what will happen next!
How did you get involved in your profession?
I was inspired by some of the teachers who taught me, developed my curiosity and gave me a lifetime love of literature and learning. I wanted to do the same.
How does your role enhance the wellbeing or experience of children?
I am responsible for ensuring that our students develop the skills that they require to be successful in the future. This isn’t just about reading, writing and mathematics, but also developing our next generation to be creative, risk-taking, problem solvers with excellent personal skills and attributes so that they can go on to be successful in later life.
What challenges do you face in this role?
I am privileged to do this job every day. There are no major challenges other than managing the enthusiasm of a large team of talented professionals – but that’s a great challenge!
What do you hope to achieve within your industry?
I became a teacher because I wanted to make a difference and to inspire children to enjoy their learning. I hope that one day the young people I have worked with go out and make some kind of a positive difference in the world.
Who or what inspires you?
Great teachers who work hard and put children first – we have many of them at Harrow Bangkok. Young role models always enthuse me – like Malala, whose integrity and endurance really inspires me. I am optimistic that her efforts will make a long term positive impact to human rights and education.
Only a Bangkok local would know…
…that the best park in Bangkok is King Rama IX park. The park is huge, takes hours to explore and offers an insight into how locals spend their afternoons off.
For more information on Harrow International School, please visit www.harrowschool.ac.th.
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