To create a vibrant, inspiring, and welcoming learning environment for the students, we are aware of the vital role our educators play. Aiming to offer the right support for students, there is one teacher for every eight students, in comparison to the 1:13.6 ratio in state schools. Having the right number, but most importantly, the kind of teachers allows us to dedicate attention to each student. At ISA, we focus on staff recruitment in the field of child-centred teaching and learning, appointing highly skilled and experienced educators.

Since our school opened in Aberdeen in 1972, it has continued to attract world-class educators who maintain a global approach to education with a focus on contemporary teaching and learning methods.

Meet our elementary school principal and one of the longest-standing staff members, Morio Kajiwara, who first took a role at the school in 1998 as a classroom assistant and EAL (English as an Additional Language) tutor. Teaching stints at other international schools followed in between until Morio moved back to Aberdeen in 2009, where he has since remained an integral part of our ISA community.

When asked what it’s like to work at the school, Morio said: “I’m thrilled to be able to teach in a unique and progressive school such as ISA which uses best practices in education from around the world.

“I have always been delighted to return to ISA. In fact, each time I was approached and asked to come back to join the team, I jumped at the chance. When you work with young people, you see first-hand the impact teachers can have.

“At ISA, we are immensely proud of our vibrant international identity of expats and locals. It is a privilege to work here with the most amazing staff and parent community, but most of all our amazing students. Aside from achieving some of the world’s top exam results, ISA has fantastic pastoral care and a true passion to develop our wonderful young people.”

Morio and his family also love living in the north-east. He says: “Aberdeen is a unique city, and a very special place; we have always thought what a fantastic place to raise a family – the natural beauty, the clean air, the friendly people and the wide variety of activities available on our doorstep. We are delighted to call ourselves Aberdonians.”

Our most recent leadership team appointment is our middle and high school principal, Stuart MacAlpine, who joined the school in August this year. With more than two decades of experience in the education sector, Stuart’s work centres around creating a supportive environment for students to be inspired by creativity and play with a focus on “hands on, minds on” learning.

And Stuart is now pleased to be continuing his career at ISA: “ISA is a wonderful, values driven international community, at the heart of the energy transition and the meeting point of many creative fusions between the local, national and global agendas.

“It is a fascinatingly diverse community in one of Scotland’s most diverse cities. All of that sitting between stunning natural scenery from both the coast and the mountains inland, and fantastic rivers and parks. There are not many places which offer such diversity of settings.”

He also shares that the best thing about being an International School Aberdeen teacher is “the warmth and care of the community, and the building of a strong intentional culture around teaching and learning.”

With the endorsement and reinforcement received from Education Scotland following a school-wide inspection, our school was described as "outstanding" in our pioneering approach to teaching and learning. Our mission is to help students find their place in the world while delivering educational excellence.

Find out more about all things ISA at our Open Day on Friday, October 6th at 10 am.