What is your favorite travel memory?
I have so many memories of traveling abroad, but two stand out: a family holiday to New York and Washington DC, and a family holiday in Nice in the south of France.
Seeing the 'Big Apple' with my wife and three children was a great experience, and included staying at the iconic New Yorker Hotel on 42nd Street. We viewed the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty visited the exhibition on Staten Island and visited the Bronx.
Of all great experiences, sitting with over a thousand people singing as the sun rose over the Washington Monument on Easter Sunday morning was an incredibly moving experience. One of my heroes is Martin Luther King Jr. and to stand where he gave his "I have a dream” speech was a lifetime ambition fulfilled.
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
2017 was my first experience with Oxford Royale Academy and it was fantastic! I was appointed as the Program Director for the 'flagship' campus at Balliol College and had a superb team of experienced Junior Deans and Counselors. Joe Conchie was a great Assistant Program Director and we worked so well as a team to support the young people who studied with us. It was a great privilege to lead the team and to meet so many fantastic and interesting people from over 46 different countries at this one campus alone.
I have really enjoyed applying my experience as a secondary school Head Teacher to this role and used this experience to develop the confidence and leadership potential in others, especially the Junior Deans and Assistant Program Director. It was great to spend quality time with literally hundreds of young and enthusiastic students from across the globe and we shared lots about each of our cultures. I really look forward to visiting many of these countries in the future. Working with staff and students of different nationalities has been a fabulous experience and I can't wait for next Summer!
Oxford Royale is a progressive, forward-looking company which offers tremendous opportunities for learning and self-development. I would recommend this program to anyone interested in furthering their knowledge and understanding as a student or developing responsibility, confidence and leadership skills as a member of the ORA staff team.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
The biggest factor of a successful business is having a clear vision and strategy for future development which is clearly communicated and supported by all of the stakeholders.
The success of ORA is the relentless focus on quality and providing an outstanding educational experience for the young people who attend its many and varied courses. Success is all about the people and developing strong and effective teams with experienced leaders at the helm makes sure that our students are the focus, and their needs are met and exceeded.
There are many returning students and staff which shows how much everyone loves being part of the ORA experience. It is such a unique and wonderful opportunity.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
As a Program Director, I would probably opt for any of the courses which develop global awareness and leadership. The Broadening Horizons course is a super way to learn from each other and develop global solutions to many of the challenges facing our society. The summer school at ORA provides a unique opportunity to work alongside students and staff from across the world and to share values, culture, language and beliefs in a safe environment.
Oxford Royale has a course to suit everyone whether this is Medical School Preparation, English Language Development, Film Academy or SAT preparation for university entrance. Any initial apprehension is quickly dispersed by the team of trained Counsellors who worked in a caring and supportive way to break down barriers and create the ideal circumstances for student and social friendships to develop.
New programs designed for 2018 will enhance and compliment the many courses on offer and ensure that Oxford Royale continues to be the leading provider of high-quality summer school programs in prestigious locations such as Oxford and Cambridge and across the UK. There really is something for everyone!
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
ORA is a visionary company which has created a unique educational experience, attracting a global audience. The excellence is everywhere, starting with superb locations in university towns and cities such as Oxford, Cambridge, and London.
The teachers are experts in their particular field and this ensures that our students make rapid gains in their knowledge and understanding, which supports their university entrance applications. As well as the academic excellence, there are numerous opportunities to explore British culture through a range of imaginative activities, events and excursions to famous places such as London, Blenheim Palace and Stratford upon Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. as we offer programs of excellent quality which are well organized and executed.
The culmination of the ORA programs is the graduation ceremony and the presentation of academic awards which recognize the hard work of students. This is followed by the student and staff parties which create a social celebration before students return to their home countries. Oxford Royale has succeeded in offering young people from over 130 countries across the world a true Oxford University experience, which inspires students to aim high and aspire to study for Degree courses.
ORA is a recipient of the highest accolade for British businesses, The Queen's Award for Enterprise (2012 and 2016). Our teachers and tutors are of the highest caliber and have a wealth of experience.
