Meet the dynamic new teaching team at WCCH

Members of our academic team in Wellington College Hangzhou have rich teaching backgrounds with an average teaching experience of over ten years each. They lead a team of outstanding educators recruited from within China and around the world. We are committed to supporting and challenging our academic staff to be innovative in their work through a series of proven and robust professional learning programmes. Nearly 65% of the Chinese staff hold master’s degrees, with over 50% of them having overseas learning experience. More than 90% of the expatriate staff come from the UK, USA, Canada and other native English-speaking countries. 

Many teachers have graduated from QS world ranked top 100 universities including Harvard University, Cambridge University, King’s College London, University of Pennsylvania, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, University of Hong Kong and Zhejiang University.  Ensuring the highest quality of professional development, our very own Wellington College China, The Bridge | China will deliver many of these training programmes to ensure that our teachers continue to harness their work as educators, informed by the most cutting-edge research and practices from across the world.    

Read on to meet some of

our excellent new team members.

Beverley Crowe

Class Teacher 

Beverley has a Bachelor’s degree in Education, specialising in English Literature at Homerton College, Cambridge University, UK. She has 27 years of teaching experience in the UK and Oman and is familiar with teaching in bilingual settings.  

She has a passion for children’s literature and aims to encourage children to become enthusiastic readers, creative writers, and confident speakers.  

She is a firm believer in bringing the curriculum alive, making cultural and international links wherever possible.  

Maria Anikina

Head of DT 

Maria has the Certificate of School Management and Leadership (CSML), Harvard University, BA First Class graduate in Visual Arts & Product Design, and a PGCE. She has 24 years teaching experience and was an AQA A level Product Design examiner. She once received Teacher of the Year awards (Russia).  

She was also Visual Arts Lecturer at Liverpool Community College, Liverpool, UK, and a DT teacher across a range of schools in the UK including the prestigous Gordonstoun School, Scotland. Maria taught Design Technology GCSE and A Level, and Visual Arts. As a teacher, Maria is keen to combine her expertise in Fine Art and New Technologies, traditional and non-traditional materials techniques and processes. 

She supports the whole-person holistic education that creates a sense of pride and belonging, promotes core character traits and students’leadership as positive role models and ambassadors for the school, and demonstrating school values.  

Demi Liu

Assistant Head of Sixth Form 

Demi holds a bachelor’s degree in resource environment and urban and rural planning management from Northeast Normal University, China. She was assistant head of high school at a noted bilingual school in Shanghai with rich experiences as a senior leadership team member.  

In her progressive career, Demi Liu has consistently demonstrated dedication and leadership. Beginning as a well-esteemed teacher, she transitioned to substantial roles including department leader, grade leader, divisional coordinator, and a member of the school's senior leadership team. These roles have honed her in-depth understanding of bilingual school operations and fostered her ability to cultivate enduring relationships with both parents and pupils.  

She said, “The blend of my personal and professional fulfilment propels my ongoing pursuit of excellence within the educational realm.” 

Chloe Zhang 

Economics and Business Teacher 

She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Zhejiang University and a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University, specialising in Applied Economics. She gained a certificate in intermediate Economist. She has ten years of teaching experience in the CAIE IGCSE and A Level Economics curriculum.  

She created opportunities for students to participate in ASDAN Business Simulation, National Economics Challenge (NEC), etc.  

She believes that it is important to build up their confidence in learning and help them believe that everyone will have their moments to shine.  

Austin Sweeney

Director of Sports and CCA Lead 

Austin graduated from Durham University with a bachelor’s degree in Sport, Health, and Exercise and completed his PGCE at The University of East London and the International Professional Certificate in School Leadership from the Institute of Education at UCL. He has 17 years of teaching experience in the UK, Qatar and China.  

He has successfully led PE departments, driving change for a more inclusive and expansive curriculum alongside co-curricular opportunities for all students, with a focus on building equal opportunities for girls’ sports provision. He has also been involved with projects within schools centred on Student Agency. 

Austin believes that student voice and agency should be a central component of developing improvement plans for schools.   

Nicole Cheung

Chemistry Teacher 

Nicole completed her MSci Chemistry degree at King’s College London and holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of Cambridge. Currently, she is pursuing a master’s degree in education at the University of Cambridge. She embarked on her teaching career at a well-established grammar school in London. 

She brings a strong academic background in Chemistry and spent time in various research laboratories, including her final year project on the development of anti-cancer drugs, which has deepened her appreciation for the world of science and fuelled her desire to inspire the next generation of scientific minds. By creating a positive and inclusive environment, she fosters strong relationships with her pupils and encourages them to explore and discover the wonders of science.  

She believes that with her expertise, enthusiasm, and commitment to student success, she is dedicated to making a positive impact and inspiring a lifelong love for learning in every student she encounters.  

Diane Anthony

Head of ICT 

She holds a BSc in Computer Science, an MA in Education and an MBA from the USA. She brings over 20 years of teaching experience in Central America, South America and Asia and over 10yrs experience as Head of Computing/IT. 

She’s passionate about holistic education with cross-curriculum adaptations. Hence, she has successfully designed several makerspaces and hosted several cross-curriculum exhibitions in which students were able to showcase their technology integration skills.  

She believes that students learn best in classrooms that are safe and in which they feel that their teachers care about their academic and social wellbeing. I am delighted to share my experience as well as to learn the Hiba way of doing things. 

Sam Mirison

IGCES&A Level Physics Teacher 

Sam is a physics graduate from Imperial College London and holds a master’s degree at Queen Mary College, he worked as patent research scientist at UK intellectual Property Office for many years as well as completing a teacher’s training at the Institute of Education in London. Sam has been in education for 15 years. He has taught British curricula such as IGCSE, A-level, IFY, American courses such as AP and SAT II as well as IBDP physics & maths in the last 13 years. He has also served as head of science. 

He explained that learning science and maths is extremely relevant to our confident understanding of our modern information age society, hence he thinks as a teacher he plays an important role in making these subjects accessible to all students. 

Tanis Pragnell

Early Years Class Teacher 

Tanis holds a BA Honours degree in Librarianship and Information Studies and a PGCE from the University of Wales. 20 years of teaching experience, specialising in the 3-7 age group. Worked in various settings in the UK, Russia and Egypt.  

She is enthusiastic about sharing her love of books with children and enjoys creating a warm and caring environment in which children can flourish, and where every child feels enabled, safe, happy and valued.  She loves to help all children to reach their potential and to support their built-in curiosity.   

She said, “I love to see that light bulb moment, when children discover that they can do something that they once felt was impossible”.    

Gary Ruston

Music Teacher 

Gary holds a BA 1st Class Degree in Band Studies from The University of Sheffield and a Postgraduate QTS certificate in Primary Education. In addition, he has also been awarded ALCM (Associate of the London College of Music) in Compositions and a Dip ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) in Trumpet Performance. He has 20 years of teaching experience in Britain, Kuwait and Oman.  

His teaching career began as a primary class teacher and secondary music teacher in the UK in 2004, then he assumed the role of Leader of Primary Music in schools in Kuwait and Oman. 

His philosophy has been to provide a diverse range of musical opportunities for all levels and abilities, involving as many children as possible to enjoy the benefits of participation in music.