Our School

Mr Phillips was previously working as the Founding Headmaster of a secondary boarding school in Chengdu in China.  In its first year, the school achieved an 86% success rate in iGCSE, with 67% of students achieving A and A* qualifications.  

Mr Phillips has been a teacher for over 25 years and for most of that time he has held leadership positions, including Head of Year, Head of Subject, Head of School and Founding Principal. He is ambitious in seeking to develop his students, so they achieve the best results they are capable of producing: “I believe a school must provide a stimulating environment for pupils to enjoy learning and where they are given the opportunity to succeed”.

Over a number of years, Mr Phillips has applied this philosophy to schools in a variety of settings, with his career taking him from selective grammar and boarding schools in the UK, to international schools in Malawi, Nigeria and now China. His specialist subject is Geography and he also takes a keen interest in sporting activities. Mr Phillips places a value on the importance of non-academic learning. In his present school, he introduced 49 co-curricular activities and the Duke of Edinburgh International Award

I am delighted to be part of such a dedicated and hardworking team at EIS (East) as the new Vice-Principal. Now into my second year at EIS and third year in Moscow, I am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead in preparation for our CIS Accreditation this year. Furthermore, I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to take an oversight of both Primary and Secondary students in the school. 

As a keen sports enthusiast I follow, with passion, West Ham United from the English Premier League. I am a keen reader of literature, a film enthusiast and (erratic) golfer. My son, Gregory is 11 years old and keeps me busy for the majority of my time. I do, however, have an urge to travel and experience unexplored parts of the world; the different cultures and societies are of great interest to me. Working in education gives me a great buzz; educating and nurturing young children in their studies and the way of the world is a truly inspirational vocation. I believe that children learn best by doing, and I look for opportunities each day to help them achieve their aspirations. Family values are at the centre of my educational philosophies; as are the infamous words of Millman: ‘life is about paradox, humour & change!’

charley.king@englishedmoscow.com

My name is Catriona Lowder. My home is in Northern Ireland where I live on the coast and at the foot of the Mourne mountains. I graduated from Manchester University and have taught internationally for many years: New Zealand, Kuwait, Dubai, Penang, Indonesia, Sweden, Thailand and Vietnam. In my career I have taught across all ages and in the middle east some pre university courses However, I am now firmly rooted in Early Years and am in awe at how these young learners develop and grow. 

I have 2 grown up daughters, one works in the pharmaceutical industry, the other works with early learners. This is my fourth year at EIS. My ice skating has improved immeasurably but alas my Russian has not. I enjoy knitting. We have a knitting group that meets every week and are very welcoming to newcomers! I cycle in Moscow at the weekends and walk/run during the week. Moscow is a great city to explore.

catriona.lowder@englishedmoscow.com 

Having taught English as a Foreign Language for 4 years in Ukraine I went back to University to complete my PGCE at the University of Exeter in 2013. Since then I have been teaching in Moscow at another international school and I'm now very much looking forward to being part of the team at EIS East this year relishing a new challenge.

I am originally from a small village in South Wales, but I have travelled extensively across Europe and really enjoy learning new languages and exploring new places. I love working in international Schools as it is a real privilege for me to both teach and learn from children from such a range of languages and cultures who bring to the classroom a wide variety of experiences and ways of thinking.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, learning languages, going for walks and most of all getting lost in a good book.

kirsty.halliday@englishedmoscow.com

I am a fully qualified bilingual Primary teacher and Primary Modern Foreign Languages specialist with 7 years teaching experience. I studied for my degree in Lille and completed a PGCE qualification in Canterbury, UK. I taught in England for several years but my passion for teaching brought me to teach abroad in Cambodia, France and China. I love to travel and discover other countries and cultures. After I married, I backpacked for a year with my husband and this long honeymoon around the world was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. 

In my spare time, I am a keen runner and  have completed several half marathons including one on the Great Wall of China, one in Shanghai and two in Moscow. I enjoy sewing, especially cross stitching, but I am also learning to use a sewing machine. I enjoy spending time with my family, especially my son - I love to teach him about the world around him. I often go to France where part of my family live, but I try to travel somewhere new every year.

pauline.lefevre@englishedmoscow.com

I joined EIS Moscow at its very beginning in 2006 - I taught the Year 1 classes originally, before moving to Year 4. I also organise the primary football programme at the school, which includes a full season of matches against local Russian schools, plus inter-school football tournaments. I am also the primary co-ordinator for the school’s student council.

Outside of school, two of my passions are football and dancing. I’ve been part of rock’n’roll culture all my life and run free rock’n’roll music events and dance classes at weekends in Moscow, as well as writing a regular monthly column for a UK music magazine. And all my life I’ve been an active supporter of Chelsea football club!

richard.hume@englishedmoscow.com

I have recently arrived into Moscow and have fallen in love with the city. With such a wide number of interesting activities to explore and experience, it never ceases to amaze me. Since arriving in Moscow I have joined the Moscow international choir and will soon be travelling to Sochi to complete in the World Choir Games 2016.

I’m excited at the prospect of working with the wonderful team and community at EIS East this year. Prior to Moscow, I spent the 3 years teaching in a British international school in Spain where I became the Key Stage 2 Coordinator. I have been teaching for over 6 years now, including in the UK and will use all of these experiences to tailor my teaching to needs of the children in my EIS East class.

Whilst completing my degree in marine biology, I qualified as a scuba diver. This has taken me to some incredible places around the world and I look forward to my next underwater adventure. I’m a big film fan and find reading is the perfect way to relax at the end of the day. 

gareth.barnaby@englishedmoscow.com

I was originally from County Durham in northern England. I graduated from the University of Essex in 1989 as a Bachelor of Arts in History and Government. After working in business for several years, I completed my PGCE at the University of Lancaster in 1997 and began working as a History teacher in Middlesex. I moved to Moscow in 1999 as a Teacher of History and Geography and remained there until 2011 when I returned to Britain and taught for a year in Westmorland. I joined EIS in September 2012. My main pastime is cricket. I played for my university team and also in the Craven League and Middlesex League in the 1990s.

 peter.rowson@englishedmoscow.com

I studied at what was called St David's University College, Lampeter (that's in deepest, darkest Wales!) where I was awarded a BA Hons in Modern Languages. I studied, amongst other things, German, Swedish and Welsh. My love for languages was born when I was 14 and took part in my first exchange trip to Germany and from that moment on I used to spend my time split between school in England and school in Germany. I gained my teacher training certificate from the University of Sussex in 1997 and spent 7 years working on the south coast of England before my "Wanderlust" took over and I moved to Kiev for 2 years. I moved to Moscow in 2006 and was one of the founding teachers at EIS; I have seen it grow from fewer than 50 pupils to the busy school that it is today.

 jay.moore@englishedmoscow.com

I have been lucky enough to join EIS East which will provide me with further experience of teaching in an international school in Moscow. I love spending time with my family in the outdoors. We enjoy the winter cross country skiing here in Moscow and in the summer we go on hiking expeditions. You are bound to see me around riding my bicycle with my children exploring the local surrounds. I like to spend time reading novels and catching up with friends

My qualifications include a Bachelor in Science from the University of Canterbury (NZ) majoring in Chemistry and a Teacher Diploma from the Christchurch (NZ) teachers College. I am Qualified as a ESOL teacher and taught ESOL here in Moscow previously. As a Secondary Teacher I have taught Mathematics, General Science, Chemistry. Physical Education and Outdoor Education. I trained as an Ambulance Officer and have taught First Aid to adults and children.

craig.campion@englishedmoscow.com

I grew up in Cyprus but my home is in South Shields near Newcastle Upon Tyne. I have been teaching in some form or another since 1994. I started my career as a lecturer in International Relations at the University of Sunderland before qualifying as a History teacher in 1997. I retrained as an ICT teacher in 1999.

Prior to working in the International Education Sector I held management positions in schools located in South Shields, Darlington and Northumberland. Since moving abroad I have worked in Sharm El Sheikh and Moscow. I enjoy the diversity and multi-culture nature of International Schools and want to share my experiences with students and staff.

I enjoy meeting new people and I have travelled extensively around Europe with my wife. Outside of school I enjoy watching a variety of sports including football. I am a keen fisherman and skier. I also enjoy cooking, reading and spending time with my family.

Alistair.Omand@englishedmoscow.com

I am originally from Essex in the UK. I studied for a Geography and Sports Science degree at the University of Liverpool and then completed my PGCE at Canterbury Christ Church University. I have taught in the UK and for the last 4 years I have been working in Nairobi, Kenya. 

Prior to teaching, I worked for a large British tour operator in a number of different locations such as Spain, Greece, Maldives and Sri Lanka. 

I am very excited about joining EIS East and teaching Humanities to an international set of students, who I hope will introduce me to all the wonderful sites and events in Moscow. In my spare time, I enjoy taking part in sport and I visit the gym every day, enjoy playing netball, football and hockey. I also enjoy running and I have completed a number of half marathons during my time in Kenya. I love skiing and used to work in Andorra as a qualified ski instructor. My favourite sport is rugby and will always make sure I watch the 6 Nations tournament and any other internationals. I enjoy travelling and this is one of the things that I am looking forward now that I am in Moscow, and being able to see new places and have new experiences as well as trying to learn a new language (I have started studying already!). 

jacki.mudd@englishedmoscow.com

Originally from Taranaki, New Zealand, I studied and worked as an Interior Architect before becoming an art teacher. My interest in the world and desire for global learning has motivated me to backpack and journey through five continents before moving to London in 2014. I taught Art and Product Design in Essex for two years and spent time enjoying nature in the UK and exploring Europe before my move to Russia to teach Art and Design.

I am enjoying the extensive art galleries Moscow has to offer as well as learning and engaging in as much of the Russian culture as I can. My strong interest in outdoor fitness has seen me play multiple sports, run half marathons, trek and climb mountains in the past and my new goal is to climb Mt Elbrus in the south of Russia. I look forward to learning more about the rich cultures of the students and staff at EIS East. 

camile.leprou@englishedmoscow.com

I was born in Nizhny Novgorod. Since childhood, I dreamed of becoming a teacher of Russian language and that is why entered the University to learn philology. I have been working with children of different ages for the past 10 years. While I was studying I spent every summer in the children's camp, and now I remember this time with special warmth. Before EIS I worked in a Russian school for a few years. I joined EIS 3 years ago. I love the school and my job. In my spare time I like to travel, read, go to the theatre and museums, and also I am learning to play the guitar.

alla.tsvetkova@englishedmoscow.com 

I graduated from the Moscow Pedagogical University and Moscow State University. My specialty is philologist and linguist. My spare time I prefer to spend visiting theaters, literary and historical museums, conservatories, art exhibitions. Since January 2014 I have been delighted to work in the EIS, Moscow East as a teacher of the Russian language.

 marina.vakulina@englishedmoscow.com

I like music because it helps people to be themselves, express their feelings and develop their best features. I have been teaching children music for a long time and every time I am so happy to see their progress. They seem like flowers which become enormously beautiful when you work with love and professionalism.

I am also an opera singer and often participate in concerts and music competitions. I was honoured to win two International Music Competitions. I know that teacher is a role model for the children and I try to be a good example for my students.

 oxana.semukhina@englishedmoscow.com

My name is Bulavina Anastasia and I am a new teaching assistant in EIS East Campus. I am really happy to join this amazing team this year. I graduated Belgorod State University in 2011.  I studied foreign languages there. I have two majors according to my diploma – “Philologist” and ”Teacher of English”.

Since that time I have been working as an English teacher in different kind of educational institutions both in Belgorod and in Moscow. I taught different age groups between 3 and 18 years old. Also I have an experience of working with children with special needs. I enjoy my job because it gives me unique opportunities to meet new people and to explore the world in its origin.

In my free time I like reading and travelling. I love good music and movies and I like participating in different activities as well. I am really excited to be the part of the EIS team and I think this year will bring lots of fun for students and their parents as well as for teachers! 

My name is Olga. I am very excited to be working at EIS this year in Year 1/Year 2 class with Ms.Halliday.  Origanally from Moscow I have spent a few years working and living in New Zealand with my family. I hope to get to know your children as fast as I can. I want to help them grow as proud members of EIS community and hope they enjoy their time here at school.

It took me a long time to decide what profession to choose – I graduated from university with lots of knowledge in different areas such as Educational Psychology, Translation and Multicultural Communication, and Teaching English as the Second Language. And luckily my coming to EIS in 2014 let me combine all these skills together.

Being in EIS is one of the best things happened to me so far – it’s not just a work, it’s the whole life and an amazing adventure that challenges me all the time inspiring to grow higher and learning more. I enjoy being among children and teenagers and I especially love when they prove me being wrong – they are my greatest motivation and the source of my energy.

Outside the school I enjoy ballet, cooking and different types of creative work for example sewing and embroidering. Apart from that I like travelling and comparing different cultures and languages, especially the Slavic ones. I also love learning new languages – Finnish is my favourite one.

If you are currently living overseas or if you would like some advices to choose which school can be the best for your child(ren), I will be glad to give information about the 3 EIS campuses.