Wellington College, Shanghai welcomes Mr Adam Shaw as Head of Boarding

Following on from two wonderful years with Wellington in Tianjin, I am very much looking forward to my second Wellington College adventure, this time in Shanghai. As the new Head of Boarding in Shanghai, I have accepted a position of great responsibility, and I am very grateful for such an opportunity and very excited about the challenges which lie ahead. My responsibilities, and that of my team, are first and foremost to support, motivate and focus the students on their studies in a secure and friendly environment. In a direct link to Wellington’s Eight Aptitudes approach, we will also strive to support them outside their academic responsibilities, by encouraging them to develop their social, moral and critical skills as well as their sporting and artistic talents. My hope, and expectation, is to develop a feeling of togetherness, openness and positivity among all the boarders and staff, creating a family atmosphere in which everyone can reach their maximum potential. I will, of course, continue teaching Design & Technology in Shanghai and am very excited about working in what I believe to be some of the most outstanding facilities any school, anywhere in the world, could offer.  I look forward to being part of a team that will develop the department over the coming years into one offering the full range of D&T subjects, with passionate, committed and creative teachers. I believe that, as all teachers do, that my subject is the best. It encourages the students to be innovative and daring when solving a problem, allied to hard work and aptitude in realising their creations in the form of a final product, with supporting theoretical documentation. D&T is probably unique amongst all subjects in that it has direct links to each of Wellington’s Eight Aptitudes and is one that I believe will play a significant role in the success of the College as a whole. But I am biased! Finally, for those of you who know me, along with my love for all things design, sport is my other great passion, and the facilities on offer at Wellington College International Shanghai, are what dreams are made of. Alongside football and rugby pitches, we have a cricket square, athletics track, basketball, netball and tennis courts in abundance. As if that were not enough, we have exclusive access to the Oriental Sports Center, just a stone’s throw away from out campus, where we can access swimming pools, diving facilities and many more indoor and outdoor courts and specialist equipment. Sadly, I doubt I will be able to continue my role as Senior School football coach, which I enjoyed so much in Tianjin, as we have the former England international footballer, Carlton Palmer as our Director of Sport, and I can’t compete with him! However, I very much look forward to helping the PE and Sports department in any way I can. This is the Wellington Way – we all muck in together. Adam Shaw