Mathew Sillett

I grew up in Southampton, England and moved to Canterbury to obtain my degree from the University of Kent. My teaching career began in Thailand, in 2008. What I expected to be a year of fun and travel became a life long passion for both teaching and Thailand. On returning to the UK I began teaching at a secondary state school in Kent where I honed my classroom practice as a teacher of English, film and media. From there I accepted a teaching role in a private school, teaching film and media before being promoted to the senior leadership team as Assistant Headteacher for key stages 3 and 4, both pastoral and academic. Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed this role, staff and students, Thailand was calling. So in 2016 I returned to Thailand, with my wife, to work at a top tier international school in Bangkok as Head of English as an additional language. Whole school pastoral and academic initiatives and leadership are where my passion lies and therefore, when the opportunity arose, I moved to another international school in the city as Head of Secondary. During my tenure I worked with my team to improve academic outcomes and restructure the pastoral model to ensure all young people were able to achieve their potential in a safe and embracing environment. Whilst at the school I introduced the BTEC from KS3 through to KS5 and worked with the Ministry of Education on a High School Diploma to ensure all students gained entry to further education and training. I also developed the community service ethos within the school, focusing on my own passion for environmentalism and social responsibility. Over the past few years (my wife would say decades) I have been completing my PhD in media ecology with a focus on South East Asian literature. This period of study has transformed my understanding of human cognition and communication. I will have also completed my NPQH in 2021, an internationally recognised qualification for senior leaders in education. With two young children, moving to Phuket was an important next step and to be able to enjoy the great outdoors every day is a significant change from life in Bangkok! I am very fortunate to have found a school like HeadStart that holds the same values and educational approach as my own; embracing differences, encouraging creativity and creating well rounded individuals. Working with young people and supporting them as they navigate the path to adulthood is an honour that I don't take lightly. The school years should be a time of happiness and development, both academically and pastorally and I look forward to being a part of that journey.