WBJ:  How has a school principal’s role changed in your 25 years in international schools?

Tom McGrath: I have had the honour and privilege of leading schools in Poland, Portugal and in The Cayman Islands and each role was somewhat different given the age, character and focus of the particular school. In addition to being an educational leader, a principal also needs a certain commercial understanding, a knowledge of risk management, certainly construction and project management; I have picked up a working knowledge from various tasks and experiences. Perhaps the most important change is that the principal is now the conductor of a very large orchestra with an aptitude to see the whole picture and with the ability to guide and mentor colleagues. Thus communication skills, empathy and motivation are the key assets.

You first worked in Poland in the late 1990s in international education. How has this sector evolved?

One needs to consider that private education in Poland was a novel concept in the 1990s as the communist regime held a monopoly over educational provision until 1989. Among the first tentative steps into the unknown were the pioneering international schools who defined themselves as providing a British education primarily for the expatriate British families attached to international companies and brands. These families had arrived in Poland due to a shortage of skills in some executive roles especially in newly established subsidiaries of international brands. 

Now international schools have a greater diversity of families, local, locally based international staff and a smaller percentage of the classic expatriate. The other main change was that in the 1990’s Warsaw and Poland were seen as much more of an unexplored and unknown destination. This has changed completely with Warsaw now a far more prestigious, safe and valued place to live. This is true for attracting foreign investment but also for attracting high quality teaching staff. There are also far more embassies and many of these embassies have grown to respond to growing trade links. International schools respond to this changing marketplace. 

In the 1990s, Miasteczko Wilanów did not exist. Do you remember it from this time?

Back then, I explored this whole area of rural lanes and agricultural land on two wheels. The pace of change into such a well-planned and thoughtfully designed town is stunning. We will soon have a completed tramline that will connect us to the rest of Warsaw. Wilanów has become a very desirable place to live, to work and to study. It remains a relatively easy commute to the City Centre or Mokotów business district and we are very fortunate in our location.

How has British Primary School of Wilanow grown across your 7 years?

I sometimes joke that we have more employees now than we had pupils back in 2017. The school began in 2015 and was still a fledgling enterprise on my arrival. We have now grown to over 350 pupils. We have added many facilities. We have gained a reputation for academic excellence and are now about to expand.

Tell us about the construction work.

We have been very fortunate to acquire an adjacent plot of land. This allows us to expand in two directions and our Lion has grown wings. We are opening a new preschool building, with 9 classrooms in September this year as well as a new Upper primary building with 8 classrooms. We have a very large sportshall being finished and we will have a number of outdoor sports facilities. These new wings will allow our school to grow to 500+ pupils. We’ll have a number of specialist teaching spaces and custom designed teaching spaces for our youngest pupils.

How has joining International Schools Partnership improved your school?

We were the first school in Poland to join ISP and we were attracted by its educational philosophy, its reputation and its eagerness to listen and interact with us. With ISP we  accelerated construction plans and networked with regional teams and schools in Europe. We have also enhanced professional development. Overall, we’re really benefiting from this collaboration.

What next in Warsaw and in Poland?

We wish to be the School of Choice for the internationally minded community in Warsaw. We are well on our way to achieving this distinction. We’re very confident that we will continue to flourish in Warsaw. 

British Primary School of Wilanow 

Prymasa Augusta Hlonda 12, bsw.com.pl