Location – Kwun Tong Secondary Campus
Website – https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/our-schools/hong-kong
Contact – +852 3958 1488
Educational leaders play a vital role in shaping the future of education. They are responsible for creating a vision for their schools or organizations and developing strategies to achieve their goals. They provide direction and guidance to teachers and staff, ensuring that they have the resources and support they need to deliver high-quality education to students.
Good educational leaders are able to inspire and motivate their staff, creating a positive and productive work environment. They have excellent communication skills and are able to build strong relationships with teachers, students, parents, and other stakeholders, imbuing a sense of belonging throughout their organisations. One such educator is Kenny Duncan, Principal of Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong.
About Kenny
Kenny Duncan is an accomplished and highly regarded educational leader with over three decades of experience in the field. He is currently the Principal of Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong, part of Nord Anglia Education Group with a global network of 82 premium international schools in 33 countries.
Born and raised in Scotland, Kenny completed his teacher training there, holding a Bachelor of Education degree from Edinburgh University. Kenny also holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Bath University, specializing in educational leadership, partnership, and development of educational networks, and completed his National Professional Qualification for Headship in 2011.
As Principal of Kingsbridge Community College, a highly successful school ranked as “outstanding” in the UK and recognized as a leading hub of innovation and educational best practice, his school became established as an EEF Research School, and in 2019 was selected as a “National Teaching Schools Hub”, one of only six schools in the UK chosen to benchmark improvements in the quality of education and the professional development of teachers and school leaders. Prior to his roles within school leadership, Kenny was formerly an adviser to the UK Department for Education and was part of the development team responsible for the creation of the National Curriculum for England and Wales. Throughout his career, he has raised educational standards in schools and supported students to achieve offers at some of the world’s top universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.
Kenny’s passion for education and his commitment to excellence have been the driving forces behind his successful career. He believes in providing students with a well-rounded education that focuses not only on academic achievement but also on character development, creativity, and innovation.
Kenny’s leadership style is characterized by his approachability, strategic vision, and commitment to collaboration. He is deeply committed to supporting his staff and empowering them to be innovative and creative in their teaching.
In short, Kenny Duncan is a highly respected educational leader who continues to make a significant impact on the field of international education.
Versatile Leader
A pioneer in the teaching of technology, Kenny led collaborations with leaders in industry and academia, including the University of Bristol, Rolls-Royce, and British Aerospace, to design an innovative STEAM programme for primary and secondary schools across the UK. These collaborations helped to develop essential teaching techniques to educate UK students for the future, ensuring they acquire the skills and mindsets to thrive in a changing world.
Kenny is a strong advocate for community involvement and parent collaboration. He considers this crucial in supporting young people as they continue on their academic journey. He is an enthusiastic member and supporter of our vibrant PTA, enabling wider opportunities for parents to collaborate and participate in the life of the school.
Away from the pressures and responsibilities of his role, Kenny is an avid lover of the outdoors and a keen windsurfer, paddleboarder, and cyclist. When he is not on the water or on a bike, he and his wife thoroughly enjoy getting out onto the local hiking trails and enjoying the variety and diversity of life in both Hong Kong and elsewhere.
Technology in Classroom
NAISHK’s virtual school experience endeavours to harness the best educational technology to ensure our students’ learning is of the highest quality. We use a range of technology including Artificial Intelligence (AI) software to help teachers make judgements on what learning students have understood. The beauty of technology is that it can help us to deliver a more personalised and engaging experience for each child.
The software can also provide valuable tools for teachers in a physical classroom to enhance their teaching experience. For instance, analytics available through digital tools can help teachers keep track of students’ engagement levels during lessons. Using readily available software such as ‘Teams’, teachers can receive reports on how often students contribute to class discussions, which can be challenging to track in a traditional classroom. This information can help teachers quickly identify students who may be struggling and offer personalised support. Scheduling small group chats or one-on-one sessions can also be done virtually, allowing for more focused and individualised instruction that can aid learning.
In a physical classroom setting, technology can enable collaborative work among students and teachers, which is crucial for students’ overall development and communication skills. Utilizing software such as padlet and Flipgrid can allow students to post their work, create content together, and provide feedback to each other. By integrating technology into the classroom, teachers can create a more interactive and engaging learning environment that helps students build skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.
About the School
Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong is a prestigious international school located in the heart of the city. The school is part of the Nord Anglia Education network, a global leader in international education with over 82 schools worldwide. Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong provides students with a world-class education, combining academic excellence with a wide range of extracurricular activities.
NAIS Hong Kong offers the IGCSEs and IB Diploma Programme. This curricula provides the greatest success for the largest number of students. With their individualised approach to each child’s learning, outstanding teachers and collaborations, and unique opportunities inside and outside the classroom, the school promise to nurture your child to love learning and help them to achieve more than they ever thought possible.
At the heart of the school’s success and excellent reputation, is the very high quality of teaching and learning delivered by exceptional staff. The teachers create an atmosphere of curiosity, passion and enjoyment for learning in all students. The school is proud to attract the best specialist teachers who are committed to nurturing and inspiring every child they care for, support them to do this through world-class professional development, amplified by the sharing of international best practice. Nord Anglia Education (NAE) offers their staff the opportunity to study for a fully-funded Master’s degree from King’s College London, underscoring the commitment to the career progression of each teacher. Teachers in NAIS Hong Kong teach children, not classes, so the focus is always on the child as an individual. The school bring a new approach to the interdisciplinary subjects of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics), putting students at the forefront of developing skills for the 21st century.
The facilities at Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong are also exceptional. The school has state-of-the-art classrooms, science labs, and MIT designed Maker-Spaces, as well as outdoor sports facilities, swimming pools, and gymnasium. The school’s location in the heart of Hong Kong also provides students with easy access to the city’s many cultural and educational resources.
Source of Motivation
The successes of the students and the school are my primary source of inspiration. I greatly enjoy supporting emerging talent and assisting them in their academic endeavors. Working alongside students to help them with their studies gives me my most thrilling days. I thoroughly enjoy interacting with the students on campus, in the playground, and after school. My daily dose of drive and motivation comes from showcasing our school to prospective parents as well as supporting the many student leadership activities across our three campuses.
Future Plans
Work more and more with our students and explore better opportunities for them.
Message for Students
We think there are should be no barriers to what our students can achieve. We therefore encourage and inspire every student to reach for their dreams, try something new, and above all support them as they set their sights firmly on their own bright futures.