Miss Sandra Crompton joined us from Shropshire in the UK in January 2023.  She graduated from the University of Leeds, England with a BSc Combined honours degree in Biochemistry and Genetics. 

After qualifying as a teacher, Sandra taught at some prestigious Preparatory schools in the UK where she gained an extensive knowledge of the British curriculum. She is very much enjoying teaching  at Stonyhurst International School, Penang. Sandra sees this as a chance to bring her knowledge of the British curriculum and tailor it to fit our students here in Penang. 

Sandra has had several years of experience working in school leadership and she is very happy  to be working in her role as Assistant Head (academic) of Junior School. Sandra is a firm believer in lifelong learning and particularly enjoys inspiring her students with a curiosity for the world around them.  

Sandra has been a keen horse rider all her life and she still has her own horse, Jack, who is currently back in England being looked after by her daughter Abigail. Sandra can be seen cycling to work most mornings and enjoys swimming, golf, and reading in her spare time.

As a former pupil of Stonyhurst St. Mary’s Hall (SMH) and Stonyhurst College in the UK, Sam is filled with enthusiasm at the prospect of commencing his new role as Assistant Head (Pastoral) in the Junior School for the upcoming academic year at Stonyhurst International School, Penang.

Following his departure from Stonyhurst as a pupil, he pursued studies in art and successfully completed a degree in Interior Architecture & Design in Leeds, graduating with First-Class Honors. He then gained experience working in an architect’s practice before furthering his education with a Primary Maths Specialist PGCE at Edge Hill University. For the past decade, he has dedicated himself to teaching at St. Mary’s Hall, Stonyhurst, UK. During the summer months, he served as the Director of Activities at the Stonyhurst Summer Language school, broadening his understanding of working with EAL (English as an Additional Language) pupils, offering a rich and diverse program to support all aspects of the whole child.

As a teacher, he expresses his creativity effectively, communicating his vision and innovative ideas through high-quality teaching to all the pupils he instructs, inspiring them each day. Over the years, he has actively led children through their educational journey, taking on various leadership roles across a broad curriculum and a supportive pastoral setting. Advocating for pupil well-being and nurturing personal growth, he eagerly anticipates creating a supportive environment for all students to flourish.

He is grateful to share this opportunity with his wife Corinna, also a teacher at SMH, and their daughter, Florence, all of whom are excited about their new lives in Penang. Outside of school, his interests primarily revolve around his active nature and sports. He enjoys watching and participating in most sports, with a particular passion for football and golf. While seeking to continue these hobbies in Malaysia, as a family, they are excited to embark on new adventures when exploring and traveling around the island. The possibilities that lie ahead are a source of great excitement, and they eagerly await the opportunity to meet new people and discover what Malaysia has to offer.

Having spent numerous years at Stonyhurst, he is excited to embark on the next chapter of his journey and share his experiences and knowledge of the mission, values, and identity that a Stonyhurst education can provide to pupils, staff, and parents alike within the wider Stonyhurst community. To be part of this new chapter in the school’s modern history presents an enticing and exciting opportunity. As staff, he is confident that together, they can inspire the children to achieve the vision of excellence that this school promotes. By following the school motto, ‘Quant Je Puis,’ and doing ‘All that we can,’ they aim to nurture excellent young men and women for others.”

Katie Gott graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a MA in History and History of Art. Katie went on to complete a PDGE at the Institute of Education, UCL with Teach First, a charity that supports equal opportunity through education. She has enjoyed working in London, and joins Stonyhurst Penang having acquired a wealth of experience of teaching the British Curriculum in KS1 and KS2. She also was the lead for both Reading and Religious Education at her previous school.

Katie has embraced many opportunities to travel to, and volunteer in, schools and communities worldwide, including India and Thailand. She is excited to further her cultural development from her new base in Penang, Malaysia.

In her leisure time, Katie loves to swim, both to keep fit and to relax and enjoys reading and cooking and spending time with friends.

Hannah Darville is a graduate of Liverpool Hope University with a BA Hons in English Language and Primary Teaching. Originally from Lancashire, England, Hannah hails from the same region as the original Stonyhurst School.

Throughout her teaching career, Hannah has had the opportunity to teach in Kuwait and explore the Middle East. While teaching at some of Kuwait’s top schools, she served as a subject leader for Mathematics and developed a keen interest in special education and personalized learning. Living in Kuwait allowed her to immerse herself in the culture and explore parts of the world she might not have otherwise visited, with Jordan and Oman being her favorite destinations.

Beyond her professional life, Hannah leads an active lifestyle. She was a member of the Kuwait Gaelic Football Team and enjoys playing netball and taking long walks. Additionally, Hannah has a deep love for animals and is known for rescuing many street animals in Kuwait.

Hannah is eagerly anticipating her role as a Year 5 teacher at Stonyhurst International School. She looks forward to meeting her students, getting to know their families, and fully immersing herself in the school’s cultural environment.

Emma Hambling graduated from the University of Birmingham with a BA (Hons) in Business and Hispanic Studies. After a period spent in Spain to perfect her language skills, she returned to the UK to complete a postgraduate qualification in Primary Education with a specialist in….. (you guessed it!) Spanish. Since then she has taught Key Stages 2 and 3 at schools in the UK, Spain, Qatar and China.

Emma is passionate about learning how behaviours develop, how feelings influence behaviour, and the impact positive wellbeing can have on a child’s development. Her work internationally and as the mother of a ‘Third Culture Kid’ has also developed her interest in the environmental influences on cognition and more specifically on the impact of global mobilisation and transition in both education and social development. This led to her desire to increase this knowledge through her current studies towards a Msc in Psychology.

Emma  has made the move to Penang with her husband and son, who will be joining Year 5 at Stonyhurst. As a family they enjoy spending time outdoors exploring, most weekends they can be found at the beach or hiking the trails near where they live. They enjoy running and, after spending lots of time on the sidelines watching her husband and son competing in triathlons, she is becoming a reluctant triathlete too!

Craig Laidlaw is from Dundee, Scotland. He has experienced many different cultures around the world having travelled to 28 countries! He is delighted to be joining Stonyhurst International School, Penang, to continue his international journey.

From the age of six, Craig was considered an international expat himself! Craig moved from Scotland to Qatar, before moving-on to Spain to finish his secondary education and then back to Scotland for his university years. From his time in Spain, he became bilingual in Spanish and English which has helped him greatly in both professional and personal aspects of his life. This has proven to be especially helpful when teaching Spanish speaking students, as well as other children whose first language is not English.

Craig has completed his Masters of Arts degree with honours in Sociology and Psychology at the University of Glasgow which is where his passion for child development was ignited. He then furthered his education by completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Education with Sunderland University. With this, he was able to pursue a career in teaching which began in Doha, Qatar, with Oryx International School. This was an invaluable experience, working with professionals and children from a plethora of different nationalities and cultures under the British Curriculum. He looks forward to bringing his cultural and professional experiences to a similarly diverse environment that is the prestigious Stonyhurst International School, Penang.

In addition to Craig’s academic interests, he is an avid musician and has been playing guitar and singing from an early age as well as participating in various theatre productions. He is also enthusiastic about football, both playing and watching, along with swimming and athletics. Craig hopes to continue these interests in Penang and can’t wait to partake in many sporting events with the school.

Corinna Williams is a Year 4 teacher here at Stonyhurst Penang. She has moved from Stonyhurst, UK with her family and the Stonyhurst name holds a special place in her heart as not only did she teach there for 6 years, but she was also a pupil there too until she was 18. Stonyhurst helped guide her through her own academic, sporting, creative, spiritual and emotional journey. She is truly excited at the prospect of helping the children here through their journey as they grow to be men and women for others. 

For as long as she can remember, she has always wanted to be a teacher, but she also always loved learning languages, finding out about different cultures and visiting different places. Therefore she did a degree in French and Spanish before gaining her PGCE qualification to teach. Before becoming a teacher, she spent many summers leading co-curricular activities at the Stonyhurst Summer Language School with pupils from around the globe. Additionally, she lived in Spain as an au pair and English language teacher.

She believes every child is capable of greatness and values each individual in her class by taking the time to build strong relationships with them as well as their parents. Within the classroom, I nurture a culture of respect, empathy, and kindness, where students feel safe to explore their interests and take risks in their learning journey so that everyone can achieve their full potential. 

When not in the classroom, Corinna likes to spend time with her husband and little girl, Florence. They enjoy exploring, trying new foods, baking, doing art activities as well as going swimming. She also enjoys keeping active and playing sports such as badminton and tennis.   

Miss Summers graduated with a Business Studies degree and worked as a charity funding manager, collaborating with ChildLine, a children’s charity, for a duration of 5 years. After returning to the North East of England, Miss Summers qualified as a teacher following the birth of her daughter.

With 17 years of dedicated teaching experience across the Primary Phase, Miss Summers has accumulated a wide range of expertise. She is also a qualified forest school leader and intends to utilize these skills to establish a beach school club at Stonyhurst International School, Penang.

As an educator, Miss Summers aspires to instill a passion for learning by ensuring that her lessons are engaging, challenging, and tailored to the children’s interests. She firmly believes in meeting the diverse aspirations and needs of all learners and eagerly anticipates cultivating an effective classroom environment that fosters self-belief and teamwork.

Outside of the classroom, Miss Summers enjoys walking and is excited about exploring the trails in Penang. She also has a fondness for reading and yoga. Miss Summers has family connections across the globe, with her sister residing in Vietnam and her daughter moving to Australia. This has sparked her enthusiasm for traveling and visiting her family, while also embracing the opportunity to discover and share the wonders that Malaysia has to offer.

Joseph studied accounting at Northumbria University, Newcastle, and had the fortunate opportunity to spend his third year studying at Kyungpook National University in Daegu, South Korea. Following graduation with a First Class degree, he seized the chance to work as a lifeguard and swim teacher at a summer camp in America for three consecutive summers, all while traveling to various parts of the world, including Thailand and Vietnam. Joseph has a deep passion for exploring new places, meeting new people, and immersing himself in different cultures.

Upon returning to the U.K, Joseph pursued his PGCE at Leeds Trinity University, where he received the Vice Chancellor’s Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement. After graduating, he devoted himself to teaching at a Primary School in Bradford, gaining valuable experience in delivering the English National Curriculum. Joseph takes great pleasure in building and nurturing positive relationships with both students and parents, and he finds immense pride in witnessing children develop their knowledge, skills, and confidence across all areas of the curriculum and beyond.

Joseph is an avid sports enthusiast, enjoying live events such as football and cricket matches. In his leisure time, he maintains a regular exercise routine, relishes nature walks, and indulges his passion for reading, often getting lost in the pages of a good book.

James Melody graduated from Lancaster University with a BA (Hons) Degree in Advertising and Marketing. During his spare time at University, he found joy in volunteering with sports camps and children’s clubs, where he developed a passion for working with children and fostering their growth and learning.

Following his first degree, James completed a PGCE at Leeds Trinity University, specialising in teaching Early Years (3-7 year olds). Before relocating to Penang, he taught across multiple schools and year groups in and around Leeds, England. He has effectively applied the skills acquired during his specialist PGCE program to his teaching, aiming to provide all students with the best opportunities to explore themselves and independently reach their full potential. As a teacher, his top priority is ensuring that all children feel happy and secure in his classroom, achieved through a variety of activities and the development of strong and positive relationships with his students.

In his free time, James enjoys participating in and watching a variety of sports, including football, tennis, and cricket. He has a passion for travel, exploring new places, and immersing himself in different cultures from around the world.

Olivia David is a graduate with a Bachelor of Psychology Hons from HELP University. With a keen interest in Educational Psychology, she transitioned into the field of teaching. Subsequently, she completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) from University Tunku Abdul Rahman. Olivia brings with her 8 years of teaching experience, primarily focused on the Primary Cambridge syllabus. She has served as a class teacher, specializing in subjects such as English, Math, and IPC.

Olivia firmly believes in the importance of differentiating learning to meet the diverse needs of students. Her attraction to Stonyhurst lies in its educational philosophy, which aligns with the values instilled in her upbringing as a Catholic. She is enthusiastic about bringing her passion for teaching to Stonyhurst.

In her new role, Olivia looks forward to building new relationships and embarking on a brand new experience. Outside of her professional life, she has a passion for cooking, baking, and Acrylic painting, which she enjoys as hobbies.

Lucy Grant will be assuming the role of a class teacher in Year 2. Lucy graduated from Durham University with First-Class Honors in Mathematics. Following her graduation, she pursued her PGCE, specializing in Primary Mathematics, at Goldsmiths University in London, all while working in an outstanding school in the city.

Lucy has continued her teaching in a London school, teaching in KS1 and developing a comprehensive understanding of the British KS1 curriculum and the age-related expectations for the end of Year 2. Teaching in KS1 has always been a source of joy for her, and she takes pleasure in infusing creativity and happiness into her role while inspiring students to become curious and independent learners.

Having worked in a school with an international community, Lucy has had the opportunity to teach many students with English as an additional language. She has taught the phonics program to these students and witnessed their growth and confidence in speaking and writing in English within the supportive classroom environment. Lucy embraces and celebrates all cultures and languages within the classroom, relishing every chance to nurture each student as an individual and encourage their unique interests.

Beyond the school environment, Lucy is passionate about sports, including rowing and tennis. She initiated her rowing journey at Durham University and has been a part of a boat club in London ever since her graduation. Lucy enjoys sharing her passions with students through clubs and extracurricular activities. She is tremendously excited to bring her enthusiasm and love for teaching as she embarks on her international teaching journey in Penang.

Mrs Esme Melody completed her Undergraduate Studies in Social Work at the University of Leeds and then went on to do her PGCE at Leeds Trinity University. Prior to moving to Malaysia, Esme taught in a primary school in Bradford, England. Esme is particularly passionate about the music and drama and enjoys incorporating this into her lessons whenever possible.

Since she was little Esme has always enjoyed playing instruments and singing in choirs and bands. Esme is also passionate about musical theatre and has been in a variety of plays and musicals since she was a young girl. Esme enjoys playing sports, spending time with friends and family and trying delicious new foods. Esme and her husband James moved to Penang in January. Following her first year as a Year 3 teacher with Stonyhurst International School, Penang, Esme has moved to Year 2 where she will work as both a classroom teacher and our Head of Pre-Prep.

Nurturing lifelong learners through engaging learning experiences is Mrs Stallard’s passion. She volunteered in a primary school while completing her music degree (BMus Hons) and this is when she discovered her passion for teaching. She then went on to complete her Advanced Early Years (3-7 year olds) PGCE in 2009.

Mrs Stallard spent her first 6 years of teaching in a large Catholic primary school in England, teaching in Foundation Stage and Year 1. She was also the Head of Phonics after just one year of teaching due to her commitment to quality literacy education and, a few years later, became the Foundation Stage Leader. During this time, Mrs Stallard’s passion for outdoor learning grew and she spent a lot of time finding new ways to promote the independence of children in the classroom.

Mrs Stallard has had the privilege of working in a variety of schools in England so has extensive knowledge of the English curriculum and is delighted to be bringing this knowledge and experience to Stonyhurst. Mrs Stallard’s priority will be to create an environment where students feel valued, safe and empowered to reach their full potential.

As a lifelong learner herself, Mrs Stallard completed a Masters in Education in 2018. She also enjoys travelling, swimming, yoga and camping. Spending time with family and friends is also important to Mrs Stallard and she is very excited to be moving to Penang with her husband and 2 children.

Mrs Colette Armstrong is an enthusiastic, dedicated and passionate Early Years teacher, who is returning to us for her second year as Year 1 teacher at Stonyhurst International School, Penang. Her last position was the Head of Year 1 in the British Section of Taipei European School for 6 years. Prior to her arrival in Taiwan, she had spent 10 years teaching and leading Reception and Year 1 in the UK. 

Having grown up in central England, UK, Colette moved north to attend the University of York, where she completed her degree in Educational Studies. After a year of travelling, she went to Warwick University to embark on her Early Years PGCE. In addition to her teaching role, over the years, Colette has continued to strengthen her personal academic prowess and is currently studying a Master’s course in Special and Inclusive Education, through Nottingham University.

Outside of the classroom, Colette is a keen sportsperson who has enjoyed playing Netball to a high standard and is adept in most racquet sports. Her love of sport has expanded into personal fitness and she continues to enjoy weightlifting, running, cycling and swimming. She also loves reading a good book, whilst sipping a coffee and indulging in sweet treats! Another one of Colette’s greatest pleasures is travelling, being able to explore the wonders of our beautiful planet! Along with her husband, Ian, they have spent numerous holidays in the far-flung reaches of the globe experiencing many adventures and discovering a vast range of cultures, wildlife, and of course a plethora of culinary delights. She is very grateful for these life experiences, it has helped shape her love of nature, exploration, and this inspires her to greater heights.