Meet the Team

Professor Hugo De Burgh (戴雨果教授)

Chairman

Professor de Burgh started in academic life teaching History at Edinburgh University before working as an education correspondent and television producer for STV, BBC and Channel 4. In 2004, he joined the University of Westminster as a Professor of Journalism, where he set up the China Media Centre. The Centre’s research and consultancy work has given him extensive contacts in China and fed an unquenchable interest in its language, modern literature and governance. He is the author/editor of eight books and is Professor at Tsinghua University under the Ministry of Education’s International Expertise Programme.

 

 

 

Joanna Wallace (乔安娜·华莱士)

Headmistress

Ms Wallace has over 25 years of experience in independent prep school education, culminating with 6 years as Head of Putney High Junior School, one of the leading prep schools in the country.

“I have always had a global perspective on life and am keen to embrace international links, both personally and in my work. Some of my memorable moments have been playing the ‘cello at an international chamber music festival in Fontecchio; playing the piano for the American-Canadian-British diplomatic service Christmas party in Havana; trekking in Deadvlei; swimming with a coral snake in the upper reaches of the Amazon and living with wolves and bears in the Velebit Mountains.

My first week working for Kensington Wade was spent visiting three dual-language schools in San Francisco followed by a trip to the National Chinese Language Conference in Houston, Texas which was attended by 1,200 teachers and experts in Chinese language teaching.

I am thrilled to be head of a school with such an exciting future.”

 

 

Wendy Archibald (温迪·阿奇博尔德)

Deputy Head and Head of Administration

Mrs Archibald studied viola and piano at the Royal Academy of Music and loves sharing her passion for music with young people.  She gained a BA degree as a mature student with the Open University where she also completed her Postgraduate Certificate of Education.  Mrs Archibald comes to Kensington Wade having spent the last fifteen years as the Junior School Director of Music at Putney High School; the last eight of those years saw her also taking on the role Pastoral Deputy Head.  She has two grown-up daughters and enjoys a range of hobbies; these include, knitting, learning to play the bassoon and, in April 2017 completing the London Marathon.

 

 

 

Zhuo Laoshi (卓老师)

Chinese Teacher

Zhuo Laoshi is a native Mandarin speaker, born and brought up in Beijing.  Her qualifications include a Masters of Education from Beijing University as well as a Diploma in Economics at the University of London.

She has taught Mandarin to all ages from the youngest prep school pupils through to GCSE, A-level, Pre-U (Cambridge University)  and adults.  She has taught at Harrow International School Hong Kong, Epsom College Malaysia and Putney High School London.  She has been awarded an Excellence in Teaching award and has a track record of students being awarded A* grades at GCSE and A-level.

Zhuo Laoshi has lived and worked in London for more than ten years and enjoys preparing students for Chinese speech competitions. Her hobbies include badminton and ice-skating.

 

 

 

 

Annabel Kempsey (安娜贝尔·肯普西) 

English Teacher

Miss Kempsey studied Sociology at Durham University. She completed her PGCE at the University of Roehampton. Before joining Kensington Wade, Miss Kempsey worked as a class teacher at Putney High Junior School.
Ms Kempsey is an avid sportswoman. She played lacrosse, hockey and tennis at University and ran the 2017 London marathon to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

 

 

 

 

Zhang Laoshi (张老师)

Chinese Teaching Assistant

Originally from Nanjing, China, Zhang Laoshi started her language teaching in the late 1980s and has lectured in both China and the UK. As well as teaching, Zhang Laoshi has also been actively involved in working with international students, providing them with language support, before joining Kensington Wade School.

Zhang Laoshi interests includes travelling and experiencing different cultures around the world. She has just returned from a visit to Taiwan in the summer attending a Mandarin Chinese teachers’ teaching seminar which she has benefited from greatly –  not only having the opportunity of sharing valuable teaching experience with teachers internationally, but also gaining an insight of the history and culture of Taiwan.

Zhang Laoshi is excited about working at Kensington Wade and providing strong support to the children’s education, especially in the learning of the Chinese language.

 

 

Nathalia Croudace (娜塔莉·克鲁岱斯)

PE Teacher & English Teaching Assistant

Mrs Croudace comes originally from Brazil and has been working as a teacher for the last seven years; three of which were at Hill House International School teaching children from Early Years up to Year 4.  She specialises in swimming and is really excited to be part of our new school, helping to promote a healthy and active lifestyle as well as supporting Miss Kempsey in the English classroom.   Mrs Croudace is passionate about sports; she rock climbs, swims and plays netball in her spare time.

 

 

 

Lin Laoshi (林老师)

Chinese Teacher

 

 

Makayla Brown (玛凯拉·布朗)

Admissions & Marketing Manager

Miss Brown comes to Kensington Wade having worked for three years at London Business School as a Recruitment & Admissions Administrator for the MBA programme.  She is currently studying Business Administration with the University of Hertfordshire.  Miss Brown enjoys undertaking volunteering work at Hillsong Church in her spare time, as well as baking, athletics, journaling, DIY and image editing.

 

The English classroom has an English Teaching Assistant and the Chinese classroom has a Chinese Teaching Assistant. There are also subject specialists on hand for PE & Music.