Kate Sommerville
Lisboa,Portugal
Summary
A seasoned and visionary international school leader with over 25 years of global experience in strategic leadership, whole-school development, boarding, accreditation, and financial sustainability. Proven record of fostering inclusive, values-driven cultures that celebrate academic excellence, student wellbeing, and community engagement. A confident communicator, strategic planner, and servant leader who thrives on building capacity across international school communities.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
3986
3986
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Deputy Head Pastoral K-12
International Sharing School Taguspark
Lisbon, Portugal
2024.08 - Current
- Strategic Leadership:School Development, Budget,Staffing and Operational Plans.
- Safeguarding & Child Protection : Designated Safeguarding Lead
- Leadership & Management: Coaching Performance Management
- Staff Professional Development: Professional and Wellbeing Learning Community Leadership
- Operational Management:Budgets, procurement, risk auditing, policies
- Accreditation:IB reauthorisation co-lead/ CIS application
- Marketing & Admissions: Open days, events and onboarding
- Behaviour :Whole School lead on behaviour and expectations
- Student Leadership :School Council, Prefects and Houses
Founding Senior Master
The Lisboan International School
Lisbon, Portugal
2022.09 - 2024.03
Strategic Leadership:
- Established school vision, values and mission
- Coordinated Admissions, Marketing and Events
- Created policy, accreditation and compliance processes
- Co-led Recruitment and HR
- Designed curriculum models
- Lead: Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment
- Community and stakeholder partnerships lead
- Student Wellbeing and Development Framework designer
- City as Classroom and experiential learning programme lead
- Budget and procurement
Assistant Vice Principal
North London Collegiate School, Jeju
South Korea
2020.07 - 2022.08
Senior School Leadership Team
Strategic Leadership
- Boarding Review Leader
- Risk Mitigation
- Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment
- Outdoor /Experiential Learning
- Policy, accreditation and compliance
- Community and stakeholder partnerships
- Student Wellbeing and Holistic Development Framework designer
- School Culture: PERMAH framework for staff and student wellbeing
- Instructional Coaching Model
- Mental Health First Aid leader
Extended Senior Leadership Team (ESLT)
English Schools Foundation Island School
Hong Kong
2017.04 - 2020.08
Strategic Leadership
- Community and Service Learning Lead
- Whole School Pastoral Leadership
- Whole School Pastoral Programme Coordinator
- School Council Representative
- Professional Learning Community(PLC)Lead
- Transition Programme Leader
- Action Research Leader:Pedagogy:Teaching Sprints and Lesson Study
- IB MYP Accreditation Committee,
- IBDP Theory of Knowledge, English Language and Literature teacher.
Pastoral Leadership Team:Senior Head of House
English Schools Foundation, Island School
Hong Kong
2009.08 - 2017.08
Strategic Leadership
- Pastoral Leadership Grades 6-12
- Budget
- Performance Management
- Curriculum: Pastoral and SEL programmes
- Transition and Induction
- Parents as Partners Academy
- HE and Careers
- Learning Support and Emotional Support Teams
- Student Leadership Programme
Head of House
English Schools Foundation, Island School
Hong Kong
2005.08 - 2009.08
- Pastoral Leadership
- Experiential and outdoor learning leadership
- Transition leadership
- House Leadership
- Educator:IB Diploma English Language and Literature,Theory of Knowledge
Local Examinations Coordinator / NetworkTeacher
British Council
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2004.08 - 2005.08
- IELTS,HKALE/HKCEE teacher.
NET Teacher
Hong Kong Government
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2002.08 - 2004.08
- University counselling, English teacher HKALE/HKCEE, Professional Learning leader
English and Modern Languages Teacher
Belle Vue Girls' School
Bradford, West Yorkshire
2000.08 - 2002.08
- Teacher of English Language, Literature, French and PSHE
NET Teacher
Lok Sing Tong Leung Chik Wai Memorial School
Hong Kong
1997.07 - 1999.08
- English teacher HKALE/ HKCEE.
- Leader Mainland Student programme.
English Teacher and Cultural Representative
Japanese Government
Iwate Prefecture, Japan
1993.08 - 1995.08
- English Teacher
- Cultural Representative
Education
Master of Arts - Applied Positive Psychology
University Of Lisbon
Lisbon 2024.09 -
Postgraduate Certificate Education Research - Research, Professional Studies
University of Bristol
2018.07 - 2020.05
MSc Education Management and Leadership with Merit - Education: Leadership, Change Management, Education Policy And System Management
University Of Bristol
2015.09 - 2017.06
Post Graduate Certificate English Studies - Romantic Hero in Literature /Gothic Literature/Children's Literature
University Of Nottingham
Post Graduate Certificate of Education - Modern Languages and TESOL
University Of Leeds
BSc Econ - French And Politics ( European Community Studies)
University Of Wales
Skills
- Strategic Planning & Vision Implementation
- Financial Oversight & Risk Management
- Boarding School Leadership & Community Culture
- Accreditation & Compliance (IB, CIS, NEASC)
- Safeguarding & Wellbeing Frameworks
- Coaching, Performance Management & Staff Retention
- Parent & Alumni Engagement
- Crisis & Change Management
- Marketing, Admissions & Reputation Building
- IB Continuum Expertise (PYP, MYP, DP)
Certification
- MSc Education Leadership and Management
- Institute of Leadership and Management Executive Performance Coach Level 7
- Government of South Australia Literacy and Language for Learning Course Tutor (TEMC)
- COBIS Designated Safeguarding Lead
- Mental Health First Aider (Youth and Adult)
- NPQML/SL Course Facilitator - UCL
Membership
- Chartered College of Teaching
- Safeguarding and Child Protection Association
- The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Additional Information
Languages (CEFR Framework)
English (C2 home language), French (C1 Advanced), Spanish (A1), Portuguese (B1/B2), Japanese (A2),Italian (A1)
Community Involvement
Rowing: Member of the Associação Naval de Lisboa Remo Section
Running: Half Marathon and 10km community runner
Student Wellbeing and Development Network Coordinator(Lisbon)
Action for Happiness Workshop Leader
Beyond the Curriculum Leadership
Duke of Edinburgh Award Programme and Expedition Assessor
Professional development:
2024- 2025
- Leading for Impact The Bridge, Wellington College International
- University of Lisbon Post Graduate Diploma Positive Applied Psychology
- Positive Psychology Conference, University of Lisbon 2024
- Mental Health First Aid Refresher ( MHFA)
- COBIS Designated Safeguarding Lead International Schools Refresher Course
- ECIS Leadership Conference April 2025
Timeline
Master of Arts - Applied Positive Psychology
University Of Lisbon
2024.09 -
Deputy Head Pastoral K-12
International Sharing School Taguspark
2024.08 - Current
Founding Senior Master
The Lisboan International School
2022.09 - 2024.03
Assistant Vice Principal
North London Collegiate School, Jeju
2020.07 - 2022.08
Postgraduate Certificate Education Research - Research, Professional Studies
University of Bristol
2018.07 - 2020.05
Extended Senior Leadership Team (ESLT)
English Schools Foundation Island School
2017.04 - 2020.08
MSc Education Management and Leadership with Merit - Education: Leadership, Change Management, Education Policy And System Management
University Of Bristol
2015.09 - 2017.06
Pastoral Leadership Team:Senior Head of House
English Schools Foundation, Island School
2009.08 - 2017.08
Head of House
English Schools Foundation, Island School
2005.08 - 2009.08
Local Examinations Coordinator / NetworkTeacher
British Council
2004.08 - 2005.08
NET Teacher
Hong Kong Government
2002.08 - 2004.08
English and Modern Languages Teacher
Belle Vue Girls' School
2000.08 - 2002.08
NET Teacher
Lok Sing Tong Leung Chik Wai Memorial School
1997.07 - 1999.08
English Teacher and Cultural Representative
Japanese Government
1993.08 - 1995.08
Post Graduate Certificate English Studies - Romantic Hero in Literature /Gothic Literature/Children's Literature
University Of Nottingham
Post Graduate Certificate of Education - Modern Languages and TESOL
University Of Leeds
BSc Econ - French And Politics ( European Community Studies)
University Of Wales