The School

Upper School Teachers

Gavin Taylor

Whole School Head of PE & Sport

Gavin Taylor

Whole School Head of PE & Sport
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Emily Allan

Head of Faculty STEM

Emily Allan

Head of Faculty STEM
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James Toner

Director of Digital Learning and Information Services

James Toner

Director of Digital Learning and Information Services
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Jessica Pooley-Litt

Head of Faculty - Languages & Humanities

Jessica Pooley-Litt

Head of Faculty - Languages & Humanities
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Jonathan Davies

Whole School of Head of Music and Performance

Jonathan Davies

Whole School of Head of Music and Performance
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Benjamin Brian Watt

Upper School Head of Art and Design

Benjamin Brian Watt

Upper School Head of Art and Design
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Billy David Bankes

Upper School of EAL

Billy David Bankes

Upper School of EAL
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Rebecca Way

Computer Science Teacher

Rebecca Way

Computer Science Teacher
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Katy Tang

Head of Faculty for Creative & Performing Arts

Katy Tang

Head of Faculty for Creative & Performing Arts
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Celeste Pryke

Upper School Humanities Teacher

Celeste Pryke

Upper School Humanities Teacher
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Gergo Balint

Whole School Swimming Coach

Gergo Balint

Whole School Swimming Coach
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Davinder Badhan

Upper School Head of Maths

Davinder Badhan

Upper School Head of Maths
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Robin Murray-Leslie

Boarding Housemaster & US Geography Teacher

Robin Murray-Leslie

Boarding Housemaster & US Geography Teacher
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Jeannie Mo

Upper School English Teacher

Jeannie Mo

Upper School English Teacher
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Harrow Shenzhen is committed to the safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of children. To view our safeguarding policy, please click here. 

Gavin Taylor

Gavin Taylor graduated from Liverpool John Moore’s University with BA (hons) degree in secondary PE and Sport. Following 6 years in the UK, gaining a number of different leadership experiences (including completing his national middle leadership training) he moved to Dubai as a Head of PE and the head of the whole school house system. Gavin brings experience as an outstanding an innovative practitioner, as well several different leadership experiences within PE and whole school initiatives. In his role as Head of PE and Director of Sport at Harrow Shenzhen, Gavin will be responsible for all PE and Sport related issues across the whole school.

Emily Allan

Emily Allan graduated from The University of Queensland, Australia with a Bachelor of Science and Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education. She has a diverse teaching experience over the last eight years that spans the globe including teaching experience in Australia, London and now at Harrow Shenzhen. She is a passionate educator and aims to spark intellectual curiosity in the minds of students. Her time teaching Biology in a Sixth Form in central London allowed her to realise the joy of working with high performing pupils when guiding them to reach their aspirations of gaining places at competitive Universities. She brings this same passion to her role at Harrow Shenzhen as the Head of the STEM Faculty. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and exploring the various cultural activities in her local surroundings. 

James Toner

Head of Learning and Information Services

James Toner graduated from the University of Roehampton where he read Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies. He has since gone on to obtain Master degrees in International Management at the University of Chester, and Library and Information Services Management at the University of Sheffield.  Prior to arriving at Harrow Shenzhen, James Toner was Head of Library Services for a large multi-site international school in Doha, Qatar. In addition to this, he was a Lecturer and Module Coordinator at University College London Qatar, delivering their ‘Services to Children and Schools’ module as part of the MA Library and Information Studies Programme. He is a current committee member for IFLA’s ‘Library Services to Multicultural Populations’ section, as well as being part of the ‘Information, Knowledge and Innovation Management’ research group at the University of Sheffield.

A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, he has held a number of teaching and support positions within education and has been involved in information and library services development, most notably within higher education within the UK. As such, he brings with him a wealth of experience in supporting students and staff in developing the skills needed to succeed academically and become lifelong learners. 

As an active researcher, James’ expertise is predominantly rooted in library strategy and policy, information/knowledge exchange and application (particularly within culturally diverse environments), as well as leadership strategies, organisational learning and culture. Having written for publication and presented at national and international conferences, he is currently undertaking his PhD study, looking at the interactive potential of individual and team-based characteristics on knowledge sharing within international schools.    

 

 

Jessica Pooley-Litt​

Miss Jessica Pooley-Litt graduated from the University of Manchester in 2013 with a BA Hons in English Literature. From 2015-2020, she taught English and Drama in Manchester, UK, and took on the roles of Head of English and Drama, Deputy Head of Communications and Saturday School Coordinator, developing the curriculum and driving GCSE results across the school with focused and targeted intervention. Jessica has a wealth of experience in teaching students who speak English as a Second Language and in ensuring they develop the levels of English needed to succeed in life as well as examinations. She has been an English GCSE examiner in the UK since 2017.

Jonathan Davies

Jonathan Davies joined the Harrow family in 2020 as part of the founding staff body at Harrow
Shenzhen. He is currently the Upper School Music teacher and is excited to take up the role of Head of Music and Performance across the Whole School in 2021.

Jonathan graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music with a BMus (Hons) in 2010, and then gained his PGCE in Music and Specialist Instrumental Teaching from Manchester
Metropolitan University in 2011.  Upon achieving his PGCE and QTS, Jonathan was appointed as a secondary music teacher at Bishop Rawstorne CE Academy, an outstanding school in the UK. After 3 years in post, Jonathan was promoted to Head of Music. During this time, he created an exciting and purposeful music curriculum, improved the uptake of students at GCSE and taking instrumental lessons, led 2 overseas music tours, and qualified for the National Music for Youth Competition with the school choir.

Jonathan has a passion for all aspects of music, whether that be performing, listening, conducting, or coaching. He wants to ensure the best opportunities are given to students
allowing them to flourish as young musicians.

Away from school, Jonathan is keen to travel and explore, a big decision to relocate to Shenzhen. Alongside that, he likes to cook and sample cuisine from around the world. 

Benjamin Brian Watt

Mr Watt studied at Norwich School of Art, Falmouth College of Arts and Exeter University, where he was awarded a distinction for his Post Graduate Certificate of Education. He has enjoyed working in a range of educational settings throughout his career and for the past 12 years has been teaching Art, Design Technology and Photography in England and Qatar.  Mr Watt held the responsibility of Head of Art and Design at Compass International School in Doha, where he led the department to achieve excellent results at IGCSE and IB level. During this time, his experience as a member of the Qatar Museums Executive Teachers Committee provided him many interesting opportunities for the classroom and beyond. He is excited about the prospect of forging relationships and working closely with the maker community in Shenzhen.

Mr Watt believes that Art, Design and culture help to build diverse communities and improve our quality of life. He feels that young people should be empowered to question and understand the world through a rich and varied Art and Design Technology curriculum.

Billy David Bankes

Billy graduated from the University of Manchester in 2011 with a BA in English Language. The following year, he achieved a Distinction in his Broadcast Journalism MA at the University of Sheffield. After a four year spell as a radio journalist in the UK, Billy changed careers and became a teacher via the Teach First Leadership Development graduate scheme in 2016 and earned a Distinction in his PGCE qualification at the University of Manchester. In his roles at schools in Manchester and Shenzhen, Billy has developed a reputation as a dynamic practitioner who instils a fantastic climate for learning and helps students achieve high outcomes when learning English as an additional language. In his previous school, Billy held the posts of Key Stage Three Co-Ordinator and then Deputy Head of English. He also achieved the school’s first English GCSE grade 9s – with students who used English as an additional language.

Rebecca way

Upper School Computer Science Teacher

Miss Rebecca Way graduated from the University of South Wales in 2015 with a BSc(hons) in Computer Studies and then went on to the University of Wales, Trinity St David to study for her PGCE in Secondary Computer Science and ICT. From 2016-2020 she taught Computing and ICT in schools and sixth form colleges across South Wales and the South West of England. In 2018 Rebecca took on the role as Head of Computing, developing the curriculum and focusing on the inclusion of girls in STEAM subjects. Rebecca has recently joined the pastoral team for Harrow Shenzhen as Housemistress of Song Qing Ling house. 

Katy Tang

Head of Music and Performance

Originally from Bristol in the UK, Katy has taught internationally for ten years, having previously worked in Hong Kong at Kellett School as Director of Music, where she received the Outstanding Educator Award from Chicago University. Katy graduated in 2001 from Cardiff University in the UK with an honours degree in Music. A classically trained flute and piano player, keen choral singer and conductor, she has also taught Drama and Performing Arts and is passionate about providing exceptional Arts education for all. For Katy, one of the most important and rewarding aspects of teaching is developing high quality relationships with students and seeing them fulfil, and exceed, their potential. She is also a proud Harrow parent, with children attending Pre Prep and Little Lions. 

Celeste Pryke

Upper School Humanities Teacher

Celeste Pryke graduated from Deakin University with a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Accounting and Mathematics. She then continued her studies, completing a Graduate Diploma of Secondary Education at Australian Catholic University. Over the course of her twelve years of teaching in Australia, Celeste completed two further qualifications in her areas of interest; a Graduate Certificate of Geography Teaching at Curtin University and a Masters of Inclusive Education at Charles Sturt University. Celeste has taught a variety of subject disciplines in Australia including Geography, Mathematics, vocational Mathematics for students with additional learning needs, Indigenous Australian studies, Accounting and Global Politics.

Gergo Balint

Gergo Balint is originally from Hungary and holds a Bachelor of Physical Education and Sports Sciences from The Semmelweis University in Budapest. Gergo is an ex-professional water polo player. He represented Hungary for 18 years and had a successful and enjoyable career traveling and competing. After his playing days came to end Gergo wanted to pass on his skills to others and therefore embarked on a coaching career in Kuwait where he spent time teaching swimming at the Kuwait Triathlon Club and coaching water polo and swimming for the Elite Swim Team Academy. He also worked at a high performing international preparatory school teaching swimming. Gergo recently gained his level 2 coaching swimming through Swim England. He also holds an additional degree in teaching water polo and a level 3 American swimming coaching qualification. Gergo is extremely excited to be working as a lead swim coach for Harrow Shenzhen and developing the swimming set-up. 

Davinder Badhan

Upper School Head of Maths

After completing an undergraduate degree in Mathematics and PGCE, Davinder worked as a Mathematics teacher for 4 years in the UK. During this time, he performed many different roles including Key Stage 5 (A Level) Mathematics Course Leader, Deputy Head of Year and House Leader. Following his time teaching in the UK, Davinder joined Harrow Beijing as a Teacher of Mathematics to experience teaching in China. During this time, Davinder took on the role of Key Stage 4 (GCSE) Mathematics Course Leader and acted as a Football Coach for the school football teams. After 3 years in Beijing, Davinder joined Harrow Shenzhen as the Head of Mathematics for the Upper School.

Robin Murray-Leslie

Robin Murray-Leslie is a founding member of Harrow Shenzhen and holds the honour of being the first teaching staff member on-site in 2020. Moving to Shenzhen after a successful three-year stint as House Master of Winston Churchill house at Harrow Beijing, he brings 23 years of experience from the UK, New Zealand and China.

Graduating from University of Liverpool with a B.SC (HONS) in Geography and a PGCE from University of Nottingham, Robin has worked for numerous examination Boards, taught the Humanities, and maintains high enthusiasm for classroom teaching. His specialist teaching subject is Physical Geography with the desire to help students better understand the changing world around them.

As House Master of Winston Churchill House he is proud to lead a talented team of tutors and work with many fantastic students. 

jeannie mo

Jeannie graduated from Cardiff University in 2008 and then went on to complete her PGCE at University London Institute of Education. Jeannie has over ten years of experience teaching the Advanced Level English Literature, English Language and Literature and GCSE qualifications. A former assistant Programme Manager, Jeannie values an inclusive and diverse academic and pastoral curriculum and it informs her student-centred approach to teaching. 

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