Meet a new face at Dulwich
JACOB MARTIN’s career in education has taken him from Asia to Europe and back again, but the newly installed member of staff at Dulwich College (Singapore) sounds like he’s very happy to have settled in Singapore – and not only because of the fabulous food! What’s your new position entail?
I’ve come to Dulwich College (Singapore) as Assistant Head of College, which is a new role. We’re in our sixth year since opening and we already have over 2,500 students. Our core philosophy is students come first so this role builds capacity for growth and development for all students in a large school.
Give us a quick rundown of your career before now; where have you been and what have you been doing?
I started my teaching career volunteering in Nepal and in London, where I taught around Peckham and Camberwell. Then I moved to Hong Kong and became a head of science and a vice principal. After a decade there, it was onto the Vienna International School where I was the diploma programme coordinator. Five years ago, we moved to Switzerland where I was a director of learning and teaching; and now we’re in Singapore. I’m also on the organising board of a global wellbeing project with MIT in Boston.
What plans do you have for your new role?
I’ll be focusing on four key areas of progress. Firstly, I’ll be working with school leaders to bring consistency and coherence to the strategy of the College as a whole, similar to the work I’ve done at other international schools and with MIT through my project work. Secondly, I’ll be leading the growth of ICT as a whole across the college. This new vision for growth will hopefully transform the experience for our students! Thirdly, I’ll work alongside Student Support to better meet the educational needs of all students at the College. My final area of focus is with accrediting, quality assurance and educational partners. We’re currently seeking full accreditation from the Council of International Schools and I’ll initially be focused on that process.
Why Singapore?
Although I’ve always lived in different places in the world and grew up mainly in the Soviet Union, mainland China and Hong Kong, I regard Asia as my home. I love being in Asia with all of the innovation, drive and energy of this region. Singapore is an amazing city with a fascinating history and an enviable story. I want to be in Asia, and I want to be in a vibrant forward-thinking and dynamic city like Singapore.
Also, I’m quickly learning that the food is fantastic! I’m a very keen cook and love sampling all of the world’s various cuisines. Singapore is really the most amazing food centre and I’m enjoying every aspect of it!
You’ve just won a “Top 100 Leaders in Education” award – tell us more.
Yes, the awarding body was the Global Forum for Educational Leadership who encourage and recognise innovative educational projects that have an impact on teachers and student learning. My work with MIT on the Compassionate Systems Framework within International Schools was recognised and I had the opportunity during the panel to advise how I will be integrating the framework into the Dulwich College (Singapore) environment.
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