Our blog posts are written by education experts and specialists at Cambridge Assessment International Education. You can expect to see well-researched, informative and original content that will provide you with advice and ideas as well as innovative approaches to improving teaching practice.
Author profiles
Simon Armitage
Simon Armitage is a Geography teacher and Assistant Head at The Perse School. He has a particular interest in the field of international education.
View all posts by Simon Armitage
Shahid Ashraf
Shahid is a Senior Manager in Pakistan. Before working at Cambridge Assessment International Education, he worked with the British Council both in Pakistan and the UAE. He holds a Master's degree in Economics from the University of Karachi and an MBA in Marketing from M.A. University also in Karachi.
View all posts by Shahid Ashraf
Abigail Barnett
Abigail Barnett is Deputy Director, Curriculum Programmes. She is responsible for the development of Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Secondary 1 programmes, and for leading curriculum reform as part of our Education Services. Abigail started her career in education as a secondary school English teacher in the UK. She also lived in Bangkok for five years teaching in a British International school and worked as a secondary school English advisor for Essex LA on returning to the UK before joining Cambridge International Examinations.
View all posts by Abigail Barnett
Georgie Billings
Georgie is a Senior Assessment Advisor at Cambridge Assessment International Education. She previously worked at the Standards and Testing Agency within the Department of Education, where she developed National Curriculum Tests in Reading.
View all posts by Georgie Billings
Lynda Bramwell
Lynda has been Cambridge International’s School Liaison Manager since 2015 and has worked in the education sector throughout her career as both a teacher and an editor in education publishing. She is passionate about the importance of the role of teachers and learners in the development of new products and services.
View all posts by Lynda Bramwell
Dr Gerard Calnin
Dr Gerard Calnin is a Scholar-Practitioner with the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) and was formerly a Research Fellow at The University of Melbourne. His current research interests are in school leadership, teacher evaluation and school effectiveness. Prior to working at EdUHK, Gerard held senior leadership roles in p-12 schooling and at the system/sectoral level; he was also an international research fellow in the USA and UK. He works with schools and school systems, and presents at conferences globally on a regular basis.
View all posts by Dr Gerard Calnin
Rehema Clarken
Dr Rehema Clarken is Academic Principal at the Beijing Foreign Studies University International Curriculum Centre. The ICC offers three-year full-time high school programmes, with a core module of Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International A Level alongside five supporting modules to foster students’ competence in language education, academic skills, and social activities.
View all posts by Rehema Clarken
Amy Cook
Amy is Training Support Coordinator – Exams officers at Cambridge and has been with the organisation since May 2016. Before that, she taught English as a Second Language in the UK with a particular focus on using technology in the classroom.
View all posts by Amy Cook
Tony Cotton
Tony Cotton is a teacher of mathematics and a teacher of teachers of mathematics. He is lucky enough to have worked in over 30 different countries. He learns most about teaching mathematics from the learners he works with.
View all posts by Tony Cotton
Elizabeth Croft
Professor Croft is Dean of Monash Engineering, the highest ranked Engineering Faculty in Australia, where she oversees over 8,000 students and 500 academic and professional staff. Professor Croft is recognised internationally as an expert in the field of human-robotic interaction. She has an exceptional record of advancing women’s representation and participation in engineering. She completed a B.A.Sc. (University of British Columbia), an M.A.Sc. (University of Waterloo), and a Ph.D. (University of Toronto). She is a Fellow of ASME, Engineers Canada, Past NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering, BC and Yukon (2010-2015) and received the R.A. McLachlan Award from the Engineering and Geoscientists of British Columbia (EGBC) in 2018.
View all posts by Elizabeth Croft
Kevin Ebenezer
Kevin Ebenezer joined Cambridge Assessment International Education in 2013 as Assessment Product Manager in the International Projects Team, before joining the Recognitions Team as the Recognitions Manager for the UK and Ireland. Prior to this, Kevin worked in international schools as a Guidance Counsellor, and Assistant Head of School, where he helped many students with the university application process, and developed a deep understanding of international admissions.
View all posts by Kevin Ebenezer
Paul Ellis
Paul Ellis is Head of Teaching & Learning at Cambridge Assessment International Education. He is in charge of the worldwide recruitment and development of teacher-trainers, the general professional development of teachers, and directs the educational content of our schools’ conferences. He taught in the UK and France for 10 years, has Master’s degrees in Modern Languages, Education and Business Administration, and has held senior positions in the provision of international education since 2006.
View all posts by Paul Ellis
Andrew Field
Andrew is eLearning Manager at Cambridge Assessment International Education. He has fifteen years’ teaching experience, originally as History teacher then Head of Faculty for Computing and IT. He was an Adobe Educational Leader for ten years, developing a range of eLearning materials and resources.
View all posts by Andrew Field
Lauren Harris
Lauren is an Education Officer at Cambridge International Examinations. She has a BA in French and Hispanic Studies and an MPhil in Latin American Studies.
View all posts by Lauren Harris
Carol Hinde
Carol Hinde teaches Cambridge Global Perspectives, science and biology at Chisipite Senior School, Harare, a leading private girls’ school in Zimbabwe with 600 learners. It was founded in 1954 and prides itself on offering a holistic education giving learners the opportunity to embrace traditional and modern academic subjects.
View all posts by Carol Hinde
Conrad Hughes
Conrad Hughes (MA, PhD, EdD) is Campus and Secondary Principal at the International School of Geneva, La Grande Boissière, where he teaches philosophy. He is a UNESCO International Bureau of Education Senior Fellow, research associate with the University of Geneva’s Education and Psychology department and member of the Education Board for the University of the People. Conrad’s most recent books are Understanding Prejudice and Education: The Challenge for Future Generations (Routledge) and Educating for the 21st Century: Seven Global Challenges (Brill).
View all posts by Conrad Hughes
Laura Humpleby
Laura is a Development Officer (Curriculum Support) at Cambridge International and joined the organisation in January 2018. She previously worked as a Secondary Modern Foreign Languages teacher and Deputy Head of Faculty in Cambridgeshire.
View all posts by Laura Humpleby
Elly Hung
Elly Hung is a Cambridge Learner from Hong Kong. Elly's passion for reading helped her record the Top in Hong Kong award for Cambridge IGCSE World Literature.
View all posts by Elly Hung
Pramod Kanakath
Pramod is Head of the High School English Department at Binus School. He has taught English since 2000 and started teaching the Cambridge syllabus in Indonesia in 2005, preparing students for Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language, First Language English, Checkpoint and Cambridge International AS & A Level.
View all posts by Pramod Kanakath
Thomas Kennedy
Thomas Kennedy is the Social Media Manager for Cambridge Assessment International Education. A former English teacher and published author he has worked for the company since June 2017.
View all posts by Thomas Kennedy
Swetha Krishnamurthy
Swetha Krishnamurthy an Educationist and a passionate teacher, currently is the Correspondent of Li’l Pallikkoodam (A Reggio Inspired Play school) and RaK’s Pallikkoodam School of Excellence (A Cambridge International School) in Coimbatore. She is a specialist in teaching, training, and mentoring across various skill sets. Backed with an M.Ed (Research) from the University of Birmingham, and an M.B.A from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education. She belongs to the management of Vidhya Niketan group of Schools, Coimbatore.
View all posts by Swetha Krishnamurthy
Rachel Logan
Rachel Logan is a Product Manager for Art and Design at Cambridge Assessment International Education. She looks after Ministry Art and Design qualifications and has just launched the new AS & A Level Digital Media & Design. Rachel’s background is in teaching art and design with a specialism in ceramics. She has an MA in Ceramics Design and has exhibited her ceramics internationally.
View all posts by Rachel Logan
Ems Lord
Ems has been the Director of NRICH since 2015, following her previous role leading one of the country's largest Mathematics Specialist Teacher Programmes. Ems has taught mathematics across the key stages, from Early Years to A Level Further Mathematics, and has worked in a variety of settings including a hospital school.
View all posts by Ems Lord
Lucila Marquez
Lucila is Senior Manager, Latin America (Southern Cone & Andes). She has worked with Cambridge for almost 3 years, and her role includes developing awareness of Cambridge programmes and qualifications in the school sector, and working closely with our Associates in her region.
View all posts by Lucila Marquez
Fleur Mclennan
Fleur studied a BA, majoring in Australian Politics and History. She has a post-graduate degree in secondary teaching (English and Humanities) and 18 years teaching experience around the world. Fleur is an international teacher trainer with Cambridge International Examinations.
View all posts by Fleur Mclennan
Jessica Minaeian
Jessica is a Development Officer (Curriculum Support) at Cambridge International and joined the organisation in April 2018. She previously worked as a Secondary English Teacher and Whole School Literacy Co-ordinator in both Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire
View all posts by Jessica Minaeian
Peter Monteath
Peter has been part of Cambridge International for 18 years, and held positions managing research and strategy before moving to a schools- facing role, managing UK & Ireland through a period of exceptional growth. He became Regional Director in 2016 and now manages the Europe team. He also has oversight of regional strategy, recognition of Cambridge qualifications, and the training and development requirements of schools across Europe.
View all posts by Peter Monteath
Nicola Morgan
Nicola Morgan is an international speaker and author on topics including: the teenage brain, teenage stress and mental health, wellbeing in schools, reading for pleasure and the reading brain and the effects of the internet and digital distraction. As well as her fiction and non-fiction, she has created the classroom materials, Brain Sticks and Stress Well for Schools.
View all posts by Nicola Morgan
Daniel Morrish
Dr Daniel Morrish is a Development Manager at Cambridge International Examinations. Daniel is part of the team responsible for the development of Cambridge ICT Starters as well as bespoke ICT and Computing syllabuses for ministries and other bodies. He has worked at Cambridge Assessment since 2009.
View all posts by Daniel Morrish
Marc Neesam
Marc works in the Curriculum Programmes team as a Curriculum Programmes Manager. He is a science specialist (Chemistry degrees from the University of Nottingham and the University of York) and has taught in primary schools in the UK and has worked with a Learned Society to develop primary science support materials
View all posts by Marc Neesam
Denise Nijhuis
Denise Nijhuis works at University College Roosevelt (UCR) as Coordinator Student Recruitment and Admissions, where she oversees the admissions process from start to finish. Outside UCR she serves as Vice-President for Professional Development of the International Association for College Admissions Counseling (IACAC) and is a member of the Council of International Schools (CIS) Webinar Committee.
View all posts by Denise Nijhuis
Temuujin Nyamdavaa
Temuujin Nyamdavaa is an English teacher who works at Orchlon International School, which offers Mongolian national curriculum along with Cambridge curriculum, based in Ulaanbaatar. He majored in English Education at International University of Ulaanbaatar in 2013 and got a Master’s degree in Linguistics in 2015. He received a Fulbright scholarship for The Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program in 2017 and assisted with teaching of Mongolian language and culture at Indiana University for one academic year. He has 7 years of experience in teaching English. He enjoys watching thriller movies and reading Stephen King novels
View all posts by Temuujin Nyamdavaa
Raed Omar
Raed is Senior Manager, Saudi Arabia & Bahrain. He has over 10 years' experience in the education sector and a postgraduate diploma in marketing communications form Middlesex University London.
View all posts by Raed Omar
Cambridge Outlook
Cambridge Outlook, published three times a year, is for Cambridge schools worldwide. Every issue of the magazine explores an educational theme, with contributions from teachers, school leaders and academics. The magazine also includes all the latest information about events, training and teacher support.
View all posts by Cambridge Outlook
Michael O’Sullivan
Michael O'Sullivan was appointed Chief Executive of Cambridge International Examinations in April 2013. He has a BA in French and German from Brasenose College, Oxford, an MPhil in Linguistics from Wolfson College, Cambridge, and is a fluent Mandarin speaker.
View all posts by Michael O’Sullivan
Sylwia Placek
Sylwia Placek is a teacher of early childhood education at Cracow International School in Krakow (Poland) and teachers team leader working on the implementation of Cambridge programme standards in the school life. From 2014, she has been working as an educator using international programmes to teach young students with national and cultural diversity.
View all posts by Sylwia Placek
Javaria Rana
Ms Javaria Rana teaches O-Level English Language at First Steps School, Pakistan, and is also a certified programme leader for the Educational Leadership certification. She has a BSc Hons in Political Science and Sociology, and began teaching English Language in Pakistan in 2011. Alongside teaching, she has also held an administrative position at First Steps School, as an administrator from 2010-2012 and currently as a Campus Manager.
View all posts by Javaria Rana
Helen Rees-Bidder
Helen Rees-Bidder is an independent educational consultant, senior examiner and lead trainer for Cambridge Assessment International Education. She was a teacher of English and Drama for 27 years.
View all posts by Helen Rees-Bidder
Julie Reid
Julie is an Education Officer within the Teaching and Learning team. Her role involves the recruitment, induction and development of Cambridge trainers.
View all posts by Julie Reid
Judith Roberts
Dr Judith Roberts trained at the University of Cambridge, starting as a biologist specialising in parasitology for her PhD. During her time as a researcher, she realised that she was much more interested in teaching and learning than laboratory research. She qualified as a school teacher in 2010, received a Masters of Education in 2012 and joined Cambridge International in 2013. She is now Head of Primary and Lower Secondary, Development, in Cambridge International where she oversees the development of the curriculum frameworks, support materials and training for all Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary subjects. Photo courtesy of Douglas Robar, robar.co
View all posts by Judith Roberts
Stuart Shaw
Before leading a research team in the area of mainstream international examinations, Stuart worked on a range of Cambridge ESOL products with specific skill responsibilities for Writing. He is particularly interested in demonstrating how Cambridge Assessment seeks to meet the demands of validity in their tests.
View all posts by Stuart Shaw
Dominique Slade
Dominique is Head of Technical and Vocational Pathways and part of the Education Services team at Cambridge Assessment International Education.
View all posts by Dominique Slade
Anna Smith
Anna Smith is Education Manager at Cambridge International Examinations. She has almost twenty years’ experience as a teacher and leader, and was a principal of an international Sixth Form for five years.
View all posts by Anna Smith
Tristian Stobie
Tristian is Director, Education at Cambridge Assessment International Education . He leads the development of our education strategy for schools, supporting Cambridge teachers and learners.
View all posts by Tristian Stobie
Sarah Talbot
Sarah is an Education Officer in the teaching and learning team at Cambridge Assessment International Education. Prior to joining Cambridge, Sarah taught history to students aged from 13 to 18. Sarah has recently completed a Master’s degree in Education with Cambridge University.
View all posts by Sarah Talbot
Liz Taylor
Dr Liz Taylor is an experienced educator and teacher trainer. Until recently she was Senior Lecturer in Education at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, UK. Liz has extensive experience in teaching and leading research-based initial teacher education and undergraduate courses. She also supervised MEd and PhD students and undertook research in geography education, textbooks and curriculum issues. Now she works internationally as an Education Consultant, writing and leading training, speaking at conferences and running workshops on topics such as active learning, assessment for learning, metacognition and understanding impact. Recently she has worked in Pakistan, China, Malaysia, the USA, India and Kazakhstan.
View all posts by Liz Taylor
Edward Tranter
Edward Tranter achieved the highest score in the UK when he took Cambridge Pre-U Global Perspectives & Research (GPR) at Spalding Grammar School in June 2018, along with A Levels in law, ethics & philosophy, and history. He is now studying in the United States, reading Philosophy at Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania after winning a place there on a scholarship thanks to receiving significant help and guidance from the Sutton Trust US programme.
View all posts by Edward Tranter
Sarah Turner
Sarah is an Education Manager in the Professional Development Qualifications (PDQ) Team, where she works closely with centres to ensure the quality of the Cambridge PDQs. Sarah is from a teaching background having spent fifteen years as a secondary school English teacher prior to joining Cambridge Assessment.
View all posts by Sarah Turner
Roshan Walkerley
Roshan Walkerley is the Recognitions Manager for the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands, part of the Cambridge International Global Recognitions team.
View all posts by Roshan Walkerley
Ellen Wong
Ellen is the Head of Science Department at Westlake International School in Malaysia and joined the school in 2013. She has taught Mathematics and Science at secondary schools for ten years and is currently teaching Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry and Cambridge International AS and A Level Chemistry.
View all posts by Ellen Wong
Iain Wyder
Iain has been teaching Cambridge programmes and qualifications in China since 2006. His primary focus is on Economics at both Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International A Level.
View all posts by Iain Wyder
Julia Yu
Dr Julia Yu has a PhD in Educational Psychology, and an MSc in E-learning. She is Cambridge International’s Regional Professional Development Manager for East Asia. A former lecturer in a Chinese higher education institute, Julia is very passionate about education, with a special interest in exploring innovative ways to enhance teaching and learning.
View all posts by Julia Yu
Rubina Zahir
Rubina Zahir is associated with Lahore Grammar School for 11 years with an overall 30 years of experience in the field of education as a teacher and school leader. She did her Post Graduate Diploma Course (PGDC) in Advance Professional Studies from the University Of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. Since then she has also been working as a master teacher trainer. Rubina is passionate about teachers training and believes that teachers are the most important factor in making teaching and learning more effective and meaningful.
View all posts by Rubina Zahir
Christine Özden
Christine Özden was appointed Chief Executive of Cambridge Assessment International Education in January 2019. Christine began her career in international education at Cambridge University Press, and has a wealth of senior leadership experience in the design, development and delivery of educational products and services, with a particular focus on publishing and assessment. She has worked in different educational contexts in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, and has lived in Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and the UK. Christine has an MA in Classical Arabic and Turkish from the University of Edinburgh and a Master’s in Business Administration from Warwick University.
View all posts by Christine Özden