Katrina Bellamy – Meet our Teachers

As Year 2 Teacher, what is your vision for the 2020-2021 Academic Year and what would you like to achieve?

Year 2 is a challenging year and so my ultimate goal is to build children’s self-confidence and self-esteem, encouraging them to take risks in their learning and not to be afraid of making mistakes, as this is how we learn. This year has been a strange and unpredictable one for us all and so I also want to teach my children to be resilient and adaptable in the face of change and uncertainty.

What do you love about working at Bangkok Prep?

My favourite thing about working at Bangkok Prep is the people. From the children, to the staff and even the wider community, everyone is so friendly! I love the ‘family feel’ that we have in school, despite its large size. I also love that we are an Eco-School, working hard to make a better, more environmentally friendly world for the future. Furthermore, I think it is fantastic that we have such a wide variety of events throughout the year and I am always blown away by the effort that our parents put into making these events truly one of a kind! 

Why did you choose to become a teacher?

I chose to become a teacher for two reasons; firstly because I love to explore and find out new things and secondly, because I want every child to realise their true potential and to know how special they really are. I was inspired at a very young age by a teacher I had, called Mr Parker. Mr Parker was the kind of teacher that made you laugh in every lesson, yet still managed to teach you something new. He gave me confidence and made me feel as though I could do anything. He inspired me to be a lifelong learner and made me realise that everyone has their own unique strengths. I hope to be able to do the same for the children I teach, by building their confidence and allowing them to notice their strengths.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Outside of work, I love to get lost in foreign places and try new things. I like trying out new restaurants and discovering many of the hidden vegan spots and coffee shops in Bangkok. I absolutely love animals and seeing wildlife thrive in nature, so visiting as many of the Thai national parks as I can, will definitely be on my bucket list this year. I enjoy photography, baking, reading and have recently started aerial hoop, which has been so much fun!

Please can you give me a summary of your qualifications and previous work experience?

I graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2012 with a BA Hons in Primary Education as well as QTS. I worked in a number of small rural schools and nurseries in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire, one of which had only 67 pupils in total! After four years working in the UK, I decided to begin my international adventure in Bangkok, becoming head of KS1 English at another International School. In 2018 I began working at Bangkok Prep and haven’t looked back since!