Ania Bialek – Meet the Teacher

Ania Bialek – Assistant Head of Primary

I was born in Poland, but my whole school career was spent in Durham (North East of England). I then moved to Scotland to complete an MA in Psychology specialising in child development from the University of Edinburgh. This sparked my passion for working with children and I went on to complete a PGCE from Northumbria University in the North East of England. I then worked as a teacher in the UK before my love of travel meant I decided to work internationally. I moved to Bangkok to work as a teacher and continued my professional development through completion of an MA in International Education and completion of my National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) which have both helped to equip me with the theoretical understanding and skills to be an effective leader.

What do you love about working at Bangkok Prep?

Without doubt the best things about working at Bangkok Prep are the children and staff. It is impossible to walk through any part of the school without receiving a wide smile and a “Hello Miss Bialek” from several of the children (and staff!). Everyone goes above and beyond in their teaching and learning and I can confidently say, Bangkok Prep children and staff are the best community that I have ever had the pleasure of working with.

What inspired you to apply for the role of Assistant Head of Primary?

I am going into my sixth year at Bangkok Prep, and in this time I have been privileged to hold the positions of Subject Leader, Year Leader and Key Stage Leader. These roles helped me develop a deep understanding of Bangkok Prep’s ethos, life values, vision and mission and gave me the opportunity to work closely with the leadership team. Experiences like this inspired me to apply for the role, as I was excited by the opportunity to work in close partnership with our Head of Primary (Brad Owen) and Deputy Head of Primary (Martin Breen) in the joint effective day to day management and leadership of the Primary School. I relished the opportunity to have a lasting impact on continuing to develop our school, especially at this exciting time of expansion.

As Assistant Head of Primary, what is your vision and what would you like to achieve for this 2020-2021 Academic year?

At the heart of everything I do, and every decision that I make, are our children. As Assistant Head of Primary I want to ensure that all children are happy and have the best opportunities to learn whilst also allowing the children a voice with regards to their school and learning. I am therefore extremely excited by the fact that as part of the Assistant Head of Primary role, I have been given the responsibility to lead the curriculum alongside our exceptional team of Subject Leaders.

I also know that our staff are our most important resource and I recognise that people not structures are the most significant drivers of improvement. I savour the opportunities I have to coach and mentor the staff I work alongside. I am devoted to fostering an ethos to continuous professional development and hope to support the development of our middle leaders.

What was the reason you initially decided to start teaching?

It never gets boring! No day is ever the same, and you get to teach such a wide array of subjects and topics in a creative way. I also love all the special events in school and themed weeks. This year I really miss having my own class, but I love the opportunity to work in different classrooms across the school meeting all our children in every year group (and even subject) across the primary school.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Outside of school, I love sport and fitness: particularly netball, skiing, running and hiking. I play the French horn and piano and I can speak Polish. I also love to travel and explore new places, and I am still finding new things to see and do in Bangkok.