INTERVIEW: São Lourenço International School’s head teacher
Updated: 21-Feb-2008
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“All schools must seek improvement,” said Terry McGuire, head teacher at Sã o Lourenço International School. Photo: ELOISE WALTON - THE RESIDENT
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eloise@the-resident.com
HAVING SPENT 12 years as a teacher and acting principal at an international school in Qatar, Terry McGuire, São Lourenço International School’s (EISL) new head teacher hopes to drive forward the project to construct a brand new school building and facilities in the very near future.
Terry McGuire told The Resident: “Our aspiration is that the new school could be a state of the art facility that will accommodate a range of people from both the local and expatriate communities.
“The aim is for it to serve as a central feature of the community and be attractive to people already resident in the area as well as people thinking about moving into it.”
He hopes the new school could be beneficial to local businesses as well as to the environment in general.
“We want the community to have access to the sports, training, leisure and other recreational facilities that could be available,” he said.
Although the new head teacher said he has the drive and determination to complete the new school, which has been talked about for many years, he said that what is more important than bricks and mortar are the people in a school.
“We now have 250 students, with more and more joining all of the time, which is why we need a new building and facilities,” said Terry McGuire, adding: “It is a community of people from all sorts of nationalities including British, Portuguese, Dutch and more.”
EISL currently has 32 members of staff, with four teachers who are Portuguese nationals. “Although our curriculum is based on the national English and Welsh system, we have a particular emphasis on developing the Portuguese language and an understanding of Portuguese culture,” said Terry McGuire.
Looking to the near future, he hopes to develop the sixth form and broaden the A-level curriculum.
“We now have 20 students in the sixth form and as it continues to grow, it is an area I want to develop,” he said. “I currently teach A-level economics, which demonstrates both my desire to continue teaching as well as our determination to broaden the curriculum.”
Since taking up the post as head teacher at EISL in September 2007, Terry is enjoying the challenge of a new school as well as making the most of the range of golf courses available in the region and watching his favourite sport, football.
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