Isak Jacobus Vorster
Chengdu
Summary
Accomplished Educational Development Specialist and PGCE-qualified English teacher with a PhD in Human Development, offering over 7 years of international leadership experience. Expertise spans primary, secondary, and tertiary education sectors, featuring a proven track record in curriculum innovation, teacher training, and institutional improvement. Specialization in the British National Curriculum and IB frameworks (PYP, MYP, DP) facilitates the integration of developmental psychology principles to enhance student wellbeing and academic outcomes. A multilingual educator fluent in six languages, dedicated to fostering inclusive learning environments and driving educational excellence through research-informed leadership.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Educational Development Specialist - Excellence Programmes
Golden Apple School
01.2022 - Current
- Design and implement whole-school professional development programmes serving 200+ staff across primary and secondary departments.
- Lead curriculum innovation projects integrating British and IB frameworks to ensure seamless progression.
- Develop teacher capability programmes resulting in 40% improvement in instructional quality metrics.
- Apply developmental psychology principles to strategic planning, enhancing student wellbeing and learning outcomes.
- Coordinate cross-departmental initiatives linking early years through secondary education to support holistic student development.
English Headteacher
Chengdu Art Training School
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Led English department serving students aged 5-16 across primary and secondary levels.
- Designed integrated English curriculum aligned with Cambridge Assessment frameworks.
- Trained and mentored a team of 15 teachers in differentiated instruction and assessment for learning (AfL).
- Increased student English proficiency scores by 35% through innovative speaking and listening programmes.
- Implemented EAL support structures to accommodate diverse learner needs and language backgrounds.
Head of Music Department & Head Homeroom English Teacher
Jade Learning House
01.2020 - 01.2021
- Dual leadership role managing the Music department while teaching English to primary students.
- Developed cross-curricular learning experiences integrating arts and language acquisition.
- Led pastoral care initiatives that significantly improved student engagement and wellbeing.
- Created parent engagement programmes to strengthen home-school partnerships and communication.
- Mentored early-career teachers in classroom management and pedagogical strategies.
English Headteacher
Soong Qing Ling International Kindergarten
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Pioneered early years English programme for ages 3-6 based on play-based learning principles.
- Designed language-rich environments supporting emergent literacy and oral communication.
- Collaborated with Chinese co-teachers to deliver a cohesive bilingual curriculum.
- Conducted parent workshops on supporting early language development at home.
- Established assessment frameworks for tracking key developmental milestones.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Human Development and Family Studies
Crown University
USA04.2024
Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) - PGCE
University of Wales
United Kingdom 07.2023
TEFL Qualification - undefined
North-West University
Potchefstroom, South Africa01.2018
Postgraduate Degree - Psychology
University of South Africa (UNISA)
South Africa01.2017
Bachelor of Health Science - Human Movement and Psychology
North-West University
Potchefstroom, South Africa01.2016
Skills
- Educational program management
- Knowledge of early years and primary education standards in the UK and IB
- English language proficiency
- Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
- Evaluation for educational improvement
- Pedagogical techniques for language learners
- Leadership development
- Department leadership
- Curriculum development
- Instructional training programs
- Educational planning and development
- Quality assurance oversight
- Wellbeing facilitation
- Child protection training
- Social-emotional learning implementation
- Skilled in positive behavior strategies
- Peer support facilitation
- Crisis and conflict management
- R&D project management
- Education-focused research methods
- Program evaluation
- Data analysis
- Research and policy writing
Accomplishments
Curriculum leader and Head of English with PhD-level expertise in human development and language acquisition, experienced in leading international teaching teams, designing bilingual English programmes, and driving measurable improvements in student fluency, assessment quality, and instructional coherence.
Certification
- Orff Musical Teaching (2021)
- Bristol Mgmt. Programme (2020)
- BARD Music School Cert (2019)
LANGUAGES
English: Native/Fluent
Afrikaans: Native/Fluent
Dutch: Native/Fluent
French: Proficient
German: Native/Fluent
Mandarin: HSK 5
Timeline
Educational Development Specialist - Excellence Programmes
Golden Apple School
01.2022 - Current
English Headteacher
Chengdu Art Training School
01.2021 - 01.2022
Head of Music Department & Head Homeroom English Teacher
Jade Learning House
01.2020 - 01.2021
English Headteacher
Soong Qing Ling International Kindergarten
01.2018 - 01.2019
TEFL Qualification - undefined
North-West University
Postgraduate Degree - Psychology
University of South Africa (UNISA)
Bachelor of Health Science - Human Movement and Psychology
North-West University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Human Development and Family Studies
Crown University
Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) - PGCE
University of Wales