BA, PGCE, QTS
Mark Owens joins BSB Shunyi with more than 20 years of teaching experience in the UK and international schools. He studied English and History at the University of Liverpool before completing his PGCE at the University of Nottingham. He gained Qualified Teacher Status in 2004 and began his career in a Nottingham state school.
In 2009, Mark moved to Nairobi, where he taught for six years. He later spent ten years working in Thailand, taking on academic and pastoral leadership responsibilities. These experiences strengthened his belief that education should prepare students for life beyond examinations.
Mark teaches English because he wants students to read carefully and question the information placed before them. He believes young people need to recognise bias and understand how language can be used to influence an audience. His lessons encourage students to look beneath the surface of a text and support their ideas with evidence.
Mark is particularly interested in how education can respond to a changing world. He has worked with students to develop a responsible approach to artificial intelligence, using it to support rather than replace the foundational reading, writing and analytical skills that underpin success in English.
Beyond the classroom, Mark has led International Award expeditions, coached football and run debate activities. He has also supported students working towards scuba-diving qualifications.
Mark joins the BSB community as a teacher, having already come to know the school as a parent. He is familiar with its culture and looks forward to contributing in a new capacity. BSB’s emphasis on helping students develop beyond academic results reflects his own belief in the wider purpose of education.
