We noticed what was on Daniel's social media profile - London Teacher of the Year.
“I have to say, I was shocked, but also really excited to receive the award when I went to the ceremony in a place called Brighton. It was the moment when I received that recognition for my English teaching.
Daniel's receipt of this honour, we believe, is a predestined achievement that required no extra effort.
For Daniel, a career in education is not an accidental choice, but a steadily travelled journey that led to his life passion.
“At the age of 21 or 22, a friend of mine asked me to come in and help her teach a cricket lesson. I had no experience of teaching children at all. There was a group of 30 children of different abilities, and I identified really quickly that some children couldn't catch a ball.”
Daniel immediately demonstrated his flexible thinking by devising the idea of using smaller or larger balls for children who needed additional support. This tailored teaching method yielded significant results, as those children who previously found the task overwhelming began to perform well in class and showed clear progress. This teaching experience brought him immense joy and satisfaction.
From that moment on, the young gentleman realised that teaching could be his calling. This chance endeavour sparked his enthusiasm for education and solidified his determination to pursue a career as an educator.
Daniel's interests span across various fields and his teaching is not confined to just one subject. He teaches math, science, ICT, DT and physical education. He is enthusiastic about the subjects he leads and has a proven track record for raising standards and bringing the subjects he leads to the forefront.
In the years that followed, he quickly amassed a wealth of teaching experience in the UK. Beyond regular teaching, his passion for innovative technology has led to new and exciting opportunities including the role of Digital Distance Learning lead teacher during the UK’s Covid Lockdown. He introduced online systems that allowed children throughout the school to continue to learn, stay connected and continue to make great academic progress.
This role included supporting staff, families and pupils across the whole school as well as sharing best practices with the schools in London. Daniel is no stranger to international teaching as he has also taught in high-performing schools in Tanzania and Nepal.
“These experiences allowed me to learn a huge amount about the world we live in and to have diverse perspectives to look at things. It's allowed me to share my knowledge about what I've learned on the ground with the pupils I've taught, which I believe is incredibly important.”
Many of Daniel's former pupils have been successfully admitted to top-tier, established institutions in the UK, including King's College London, Imperial College London, University College London, the University of Edinburgh and the University of Manchester. Among these pupils are some star pupils, such as the well-known British actress Daisy Edgar-Jones, the two children of Washington Post CEO William Lewis and the daughter of artist Noma Bar.
Despite his extensive experience in education and management over the past 23 years, Daniel remains driven by his passion and commitment to education and is steadfast in his pursuit of internationalised education. He believes that education must become more diverse and open to equip our pupils for the future in this interconnected, globalised era.
Hiba Academy Hangzhou is the epitome of an institution that merges Eastern and Western educational philosophies, grounded in Chinese cultural roots while aiming to cultivate globally minded citizens. Daniel is drawn to our innovative ethos and the blend of Chinese and Western curriculums, which align with his vision for internationalised bilingual education, an area he is eager to delve into and advance.
This is my 23rd year within the education industry and I learn new skills every single year. I learn from the environment I am in and the culture there, and I have experienced teachers that I am working with, over a period of time I've learned from them and gradually I've realised I'm now the experienced teacher and I have the opportunity to share my best practice with teachers in wonderful environments in the school like Hiba.”
Daniel's philosophy on education, rooted in his early teaching experiences 22 years ago, remains steadfast: the essence of teaching lies in challenging each pupil appropriately. He possesses a keen ability to discern those who find learning daunting and has always been generously assisting them.
With empathy, he can easily step into the shoes of pupils who need academic support. His multifaceted approach to supporting children when necessary is tailored to equip them with the tools required for success.
Parents and children might often wonder if expat teachers are distant.
However, Daniel bridges that gap through his actions. Whether it's greeting pupils in the corridors, getting dunked in the dunk tank activity during the Summer Carnival, or returning to the classroom to teach, he consistently finds unexpected ways to connect with the children, conveying the warmth of an educator.
Daniel's educational philosophy is marked by a deep and reasoned passion. He grasps that education is not just about transferring knowledge; it is about fostering pupils' mental wellbeing and interests while aiding their personal development.
In his interactions, Daniel creates an atmosphere where pupils and parents feel warmly received and genuinely cared for, reflecting his profound dedication to his profession. He is esteemed as a teacher and revered as a father who integrates Eastern and Western educational approaches.
For Daniel, respect for a child's developmental journey, offering robust support and trust, and encouraging a broad range of enriching life experiences are all essential ingredients for setting the stage for future achievements, whether in his role as an educator or as a father.
“It’s important that parents grow alongside their children. Your passion for your career and your family allows you to unconsciously and positively impact your child," Daniel shared. As a result, their family has been filled with love, support and trust, allowing their children to feel safe and focused on exploring what interests them.
Daniel is not only dedicated to his work but also a competitive athlete who thrives on daily physical activities such as hitting the gym, cycling and swimming. He has also been a competitor for Westbury Harriers in the UK, a renowned team that has been home to many prominent runners from Bristol.
During his time with Westbury Harriers, Daniel pushed himself to new limits and encountered numerous like-minded individuals, which helped him evolve into a better athlete and a more balanced person.
As an athlete, Daniel has learned to gather insights from both adults and children in his surroundings. Whether he's part of a cycling team or engaged in activities like horseback riding, skiing or snowboarding, he recognises the significance of teamwork and acknowledges that regardless of others' superior performance, there is always something of worth that he can learn from them.
This ongoing quest for knowledge has given Daniel a competitive advantage. Over time, Daniel has gradually shifted his focus to running, cycling and engaging in skiing and snowboarding in the winter, and participating in beach sports in the summer, all activities he does with his children.
When it comes to his bond with China, Daniel's enthusiasm is palpable. He reminisces about choosing to study European history at the age of 17, where he discovered numerous links between the course and Chinese culture. This realisation sparked a deep fascination with China, a country he saw as enchanting and deserving of a thorough investigation. As a result, he dove into an extensive array of literature, eager to learn more about China's history and culture.
His curiosity did not remain unquenched for long. Upon relocating to London to teach at a British primary school, Daniel explored the use of translation tools on iPads and smartphones in an effort to assist the two Chinese pupils in his class to more effectively grasp the English language.
Daniel also embarked on the HSK programme, which granted him the opportunity to visit China. He toured a university in Harbin and travelled to Beijing as part of a college trip. For him, mastering Chinese is not just about language acquisition but also about gaining a deeper understanding of Chinese culture; it represents a challenge he relishes. He typically devotes three hours on weekend mornings and Wednesday evenings to studying Chinese.
For the city where the Wellington College Hangzhou is located, Daniel summarised it with three words: #TechCity, #MyHome, #HeavenOnEarth.
"Unlike many international cities I've visited, Hangzhou's natural beauty is simply stunning. From the city centre, it's a simple matter to drive or cycle to the verdant mountains. For those who love the outdoors, you can ride along the scenic cycling paths to the mountains and immerse yourself in the serenity and freshness of nature. In contrast, Hangzhou also offers modern shopping centres, where these complexes provide a comprehensive range of amenities from entertainment and shopping to dining."
His love for the city is infectious. For someone like Daniel, who is passionate about sports and eager to explore, Hangzhou offers the perfect blend of natural splendour and urban convenience.
This admiration for Daniel stems from his passion and is enhanced by his exceptional skills. We are compelled to redefine who Daniel is as a teacher.
As he puts it, he is ‘a dynamic teacher who tries to challenge every child within every lesson to maximize their learning opportunity.’
Undoubtedly, Daniel is an experienced teacher with rich experience. However, it is his valuable traits—thoughtfulness, commitment to teaching, resilience in the face of challenges and openness to change—that truly define him. The true answer to who Daniel is does not come from repeated introspection, but rather from his self that naturally forms in the process of continuous progress and focused attention.
“So for me, my unique habit tends to be things like if someone says it's impossible or you cannot do it, I will almost 100% give it a go and see if I can overcome that challenge. Because often I believe that you can do almost anything you want to.”
Each stride Daniel takes and every endeavour he pursues sculpts his distinct path in both career and life.
Daniel is also convinced that one's true self is not a fixed entity but rather evolves and grows through continuous pursuit and exploration. He believes, as he did when he first decided to learn Chinese, that daily efforts lay the bricks for the future, building up bit by bit and gaining momentum.
Daniel's story encapsulates the essence of the many inspiring tales of teachers at the Hiba Academy Hangzhou. Here, each educator constructs their own bridges for pupils to connect with the world, embracing the belief that every child possesses unique talents and strengths.
We are equally convinced that these educators, aligned with Hiba's educational ethos, will serve as the finest mentors, guiding children along their developmental journey.
If you could go back 10 years, what, if anything, would you do differently?
If I went back into a time machine ten years. I don't think there would be a single thing that I would do differently. The experiences that I've had have shaped me. So, my experiences in the past have shaped who I am today. The mistakes that I have made, made me who I am today.
When I've gone wrong, I've learned to go right. We all need to make as many mistakes as we can. Make lots of them. But you have to learn from those mistakes. For me, those mistakes have shaped who I am today. If I did go back in a time machine, I wouldn't change any of the decisions that I have made in the past.
I certainly reflect on some of the things that I went wrong with. And I would approach things differently. A lot of the things I do now I do differently because I learned ten years ago that when I went wrong, I learned how to go right. So, for all of us, I really feel that make as many mistakes as you can and learn from those mistakes and live without regrets.
What qualities should a teacher possess to be popular among pupils, and how can one become such a teacher?
Daniel: To be a popular or well-liked teacher within the school? There are a number of things we've really got to do. Number one, make sure you know the pupil’s names. Number two, make sure you find out what the pupil likes, what they like, what they don't like, what are their hobbies?
Do they play chess? Do they swim regularly? What time do they wake up for that swimming lesson? Once you identify the things they're interested in, you can make links when you're teaching the curriculum. When children find it really hard, you can tell them, wow, it's a bit like when you're having a swimming session. You might do this when you're finding it difficult.
You don't give up. You keep going. When the child realises that you understand what they're like and you communicate well with their parents, you share the successes. You share the things that children find hard, and you share the targets. The child realises you are invested in them, and as a result, you may well become a popular or likeable teacher.
But most of all, you will have a child who will perform academically very well in school. They know they're supported, and they will come to you when they need support or assistance.
What advice would you like to give to new teachers?
Daniel: If I had to give some advice to new teachers, I would say be reflective of your own practice. You teach a lesson. Think about how the lesson went. Look at the pupils learning. Listen to the feedback from the pupils and think, how did you challenge the pupils who are academically very able?
Could you do something different? How did you approach supporting children who needed that extra support to make progress? Most importantly, I would say, as a newly trained teacher, you want to visit lots of different classrooms, and see best practice. See how other teachers are teaching and try it for yourself. But the next important thing is to make sure as a newly qualified teacher, you stay current in terms of your knowledge of teaching.
We call that pedagogy. Make sure you look at the best-case evidence-based research from educationists like John Hattie. Look at the practice. Look at the research. Can you try some of the ideas that come in the study? So being aware of what is being released and look at the new ideas. Could it impact on your class.
What do you think is the most important way for teachers to accumulate learning?
Daniel: For teachers to develop their own best practice in their own pedagogy? It's very, very important that we have an open-door policy in terms of early learning. It's great as a teacher to go into other people's classes, observe them, support them, and see what are the things that they're doing in their classroom.
Have a look at what they're doing. Does it work? Could it work for your class? And best of all, you then go back and try on it. And it's also important as a teacher, you have to stay on top of what is current best practice. You want to be looking at the UK, you want to be looking at countries around the world to also within China.
What are the best schools around the world doing? The schools that are getting the highest grades and attainment? What are they doing that is different? What could we then add to our best practice within our own classrooms? And by observing it and learning and practicing, you bring it into your own classroom. The key is you have to practice.
Don't give up if it doesn't work the first time, because if you do something the first time, it might not work. You do it, the second time it might be successful. You do it the third time it might be a huge success and it might have an impact on learning. The moment it has an impact on learning and the pupils progress and attainment is raised, you then have happy pupils. They are doing well academically, and they should be in line with UK age-related expectations or above.
In your opinion, which of Hiba's five values is the most important?
Daniel: If I had to choose one of Hiba’s values, I would choose courage. If every child had the courage to put their hand up to answer a question, it would be brilliant. If every child had the courage to stand up and speak in a group, to sing, to dance, to say what they want to say.
If we have the courage to do the right thing when others around us are not. If we have the courage to help others when we feel we can. If we have the courage to collaborate and be a team. If I had to choose one of our values, I think courage for me is the most important. If we have that courage, we can change the world we live in.
If we have the courage, we can make the right choices. We can make exceptional choices to make great progress in class. But most of all, if we have the courage, we can live our dreams.
