Our Staff

Guidance, Inspiration and Support

Barbara Vollrath

Head of School

My personal aim here at Woodford is to draw on the Japanese idea of Kaizen, which translates roughly to "good change," it is a Japanese productivity philosophy that helps you organize everything you do. In short, it means "constant, continuous improvement," and fosters in schools, a culture of where the quality of teaching and learning underpins all positive change.

It is important to ensure that this improvement doesn’t come at too great a financial or social cost. It would, for example, be ridiculous to jeopardize the warm heart of Woodford and the vibrancy of the students and staff in a headlong rush for narrow sporting, academic and even artistic achievement. We have to meet the needs of all students inclusive of those good at sport, academics and the arts but not exclusively so. Developing a first rate and inclusive international school which goes out of its way to meet the needs of all individual students here in the Solomon Islands is being achieved. It is happening through the implementation of a hands-on, exciting and engaging curriculum (using the International Baccalaureate PYP and Cambridge IGCSE and AL) that draws heavily on the local resources and uses the very nature of the economic and social environment to provide a stimulus to student learning, staff motivation and parental involvement.

Having had the privilege of working in other small economy environments I know just how vital an exceptional international school can be. Woodford has the potential to provide an impetus to growth for the entire Solomon Island community. By providing academically able and well-qualified graduates who are internationally minded and imbued with the emotional, flexible and academic mindset necessary for success in todays working environment Woodford is invaluable. Woodford’s global strength in academics and extra-curricular activities already allows many local employers in both the public and private sectors to attract the high calibre expatriate workers they require.

All parents should not just be comfortable with their kids being here at Woodford but also both thrilled and excited that they are!