A Shortlist ‘Hattrick’ in Independent Schools of The Year 2022

Concord is delighted to have been shortlisted in a ‘hattrick’ of categories in this year’s Independent Schools of the Year (ISOTY) awards.

The ISOTY competition, which first launched in 2018, has “once again had a fantastic response” according to Chair, Dr Helen Wright, with hundreds of schools across the country entering into one or more of the 22 awards categories.

For the third year running, Concord has been shortlisted in the prestigious awards scheme, and this year, the College has actually been shortlisted in three categories:

  • The Green Award for Environmental Achievement
  • Independent School of the Year for International Student Experience
  • Unsung Hero of the Year

Concord is certainly proud of its ever-developing ‘green’ whole-school approach to creating a more sustainable planet. The College’s green commitments are not limited to one-off events but are an extension of leading curricular and super-curricular activities.

The impact of learning and living in a community which considers the smaller and larger pictures of ecological issues in day-to-day life helps successfully prepare students for a healthier present and more sustainable future.

The international student experience at Concord is based on how everything has been carefully designed around the experience of the student not just away from home, but their home nation. With over 40 nationalities and a diverse range of backgrounds, Concord allows students to delight in an environment where everyone is so different that they don’t feel the need to be anyone but themselves.

Students themselves recognise how making friends from around the world helps them gain greater cultural awareness and learn from a multitude of perspectives, insights and experiences in and outside of the classroom.

Finally, the Unsung Hero of the Year focusses on Mr Mohamed Nauman, known by all at Concord as “Mr Nauman.” He is a much-loved part of the Concord community. For over seven years, he has run a café and tuck-shop in Concord’s ‘West End’ – a dedicated student social hub.

In the words of Concord’s Head of Lower School, Mrs Rachel Coward: “Nauman is truly an unsung hero in that he is so quietly modest and always there that there is a danger he is taken for granted and overlooked. But EVERYONE knows Nauman – and Nauman knows us too. He is a true Concordian.”

Reflecting on the awards, Dr Wright commented: “The purpose has always been to highlight the excellence of the student experience offered by the UK’s amazing independent schools. On the evidence of the 2022 submissions, the independent school sector in Britain has surged back from the impact of COVID, with rising demand for places across the country.

“It has been truly wonderful to receive nominations which showcase transformative and innovative projects that are underway across the country.”

Dr Wright added: “Well done to Concord College on the success of your school – congratulations on the great work you do!”

Speaking of being shortlisted, Concord’s Principal, Dr Michael Truss said: “It is wonderful to hear that Concord has been nominated once again for these awards, and in no less than three categories this year.

“I am so proud of our students and our staff who all work tremendously hard to make this the happy and successful international community that it is.”

A list of Finalists will be published on 7 September and the winners, chosen by the Independent Schools of the Year judging panel will be announced at an awards ceremony in October.

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© 2023 The Concord College International School

Rosanna Kirkbride originates from Toronto, Canada and is a graduate of the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) in English and Political Science. She then completed her teacher training at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia and is currently pursuing a master’s in education from the University of Bath.

Whilst in Australia, Mrs Kirkbride developed a great passion for education and returned to her home country to teach at a native Canadian school in Northern Ontario. Shortly after she moved to the United Kingdom where she taught at primary schools in East London and Essex. Following her time in the UK, Mrs Kirkbride then moved to an international school in Seoul, South Korea where she held the posts of Head of Year, Literacy Coordinator, Lead Safeguarding Trainer, and Extra-Curricular Activities Coordinator.

Most recently, Mrs Kirkbride has served as the Founding Head of Primary at an international school in Malaysia, assisting with the physical development of the site and successfully establishing the Primary School’s internal structures. She has also served as the Vice-Chair of Primary Heads within the Association of International Malaysian Schools. She is now the Founding Head of Primary at Concord College International School, Malaysia.

“Education serves as a pillar in the lives of children, and I consider it a privilege to contribute to the teaching and learning of young minds in an outstanding institution. At Concord Primary, we take pride in helping parents raise children in addition to educating them. We foster the growth and development of children through our ethos, Rigour, Kindness, and Creativity. It is my belief that equipping children with a set of practical life skills in line with this ethos will support their future achievements and successes. Through the delivery of a rigorous curriculum Concord Primary sets the foundation in academic subjects to prepare students for Secondary School.

Our highly dedicated team of educators reinforce values that promote kindness and creativity to develop students into respectful and responsible members of our global community. Working closely with our Concord families, we look forward to celebrating the achievements of your children.”

Dr Phil Outram read Mathematics for his undergraduate degree at Queens’ College Cambridge. He completed his Doctorate degree at the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge, before moving to the University of Durham where he spent six years as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow. His research focused on using large state-of-the-art surveys of distant active galaxies to probe the evolution of large-scale structure in the universe. Whilst in Durham, Dr Outram’s responsibilities included teaching and supporting the undergraduate and postgraduate students, and he took the decision to switch to secondary education, taking up a position as a teacher of mathematics at Rugby School.

He moved to Concord College UK in 2008 and immediately fell in love with the vibrant atmosphere there, where students show friendship, compassion, humility, and integrity to match their passion to learn and determination to succeed. Dr Outram has been Assistant Principal at Concord College for twelve years, with responsibilities including examinations and enrichment. He has a passion for travelling and hill-walking and has taken Concord students on many expeditions to destinations including Costa Rica, Madagascar, Bolivia, and Kenya.

Dr Outram will be moving to Malaysia at the end of the academic year and taking up the position of the Founding Head of Secondary at Concord College International School.

“We live in a world of wonders where technology is revolutionising all aspects of our lives, from an explosion in social media and driverless cars, to dramatic medical advances from sequencing the human genome. For young people growing up in this exhilarating new world, the possibilities are boundless. However, they will also face many challenges, with our rapidly expanding population using resources at a rate never previously seen, and polluting our world to an extent that wildlife, habitats, and even our climate, are threatened on an unprecedented scale. Technological advances such as artificial intelligence with quantum computing could enable us to find new solutions to problems that currently seem impossible. New inventions, innovations and discoveries require curiosity and creativity, and a Concord education will embrace these values by bringing excitement and joy to the classroom and inspiring our students to always question and want to discover more. However, with ever increasing competition, I believe that a rigorous education, ensuring that our students stand out from the crowd, is more crucial than ever. Our students entering this world will become its next leaders. Kindness and international cooperation are central to the ethos of Concord College International School, and, in my view, it is most important that our education should instil these values in them, to guide them to make the best possible decisions when addressing the challenges of the mid-21st century.”

Neil Hawkins was educated at Robinson College Cambridge, where he studied History. His 34-year of career in education started in 1989 as a teacher. He has taught and led in some of the UK’s finest schools in a career that has been marked by success and high achievement. He was Principal of Concord College UK from 2005 to 2021 during which time Concord College doubled in size, clarified its ethos, transformed its measurable outcomes and became recognised as one of the UK’s Top 5 performing schools. During this time, he was also Chair of Governors of a top performing UK primary school. His record of shaping and leading success in education is clear.

Described as an ‘educational visionary’, Mr Hawkins is now the Global Principal of Concord College International Ltd and is the Founding Executive Principal of Concord College International School, Malaysia. Mr Hawkins is also the Chair of Befrienders Worldwide, one of the world’s largest emotional support networks.

“It is my honour to welcome you to Concord College International School, Malaysia.

Our children have just one chance to be young and one chance to prepare for adulthood.    This time is precious.  It is my aim to ensure that our wonderful new school maximises opportunities and prepares children for tomorrow.  Of course, this is what all schools aim to do.  However, this is not always achieved.  Here at CCIS we will educate children using the highly successful Concord ethos of Rigour, Kindness, and Creativity.   This ethos fuses the best of western and eastern global education traditions while recognising that we all thrive when we are treated with respect and with kindness.

It is my aim that CCIS will not just be a good school but will become one of the top schools in Malaysia and in the region.  This will be achieved by children, educators and parents working together to deliver the central Concord ethos, while recognising that each child is unique and is constantly changing and developing.  My experience as an educator has taught me that the quest for high standards and good discipline is the bedrock of educational success.  When this is linked with the fostering of curiosity and creative problem solving, measurable success is achieved.  If we then act with decency and in a spirit of harmony, our families, communities and societies benefit.

Welcome to Concord College International School.”