Thomas Bannister BA(Hons) / PGCE / QTS / NPQLTD

As an educator with over 18 years of professional teaching experience I thrive on engaging students in a process of collaboration and enquiry through activities that encourage creativity, exploration and critical reflection. I have a solid commitment to both the social and academic growth of students and see the fostering of life skills as essential to every child’s development in order to create well-rounded, ethical and responsible individuals that can reach their full potential and make a positive addition to the world. I enjoy the process of learning and see this trait as essential in continuing to be an effective practitioner. As a highly motivated and experienced teacher I annually achieve outstanding examination results and am able to offer meaningful input to schools and their pedagogy. I have held numerous responsibilities as a leader and have demonstrated the willingness to take up new challenges with diligence, optimism and determination.

Cambridge Outstanding Learner Awards 

2022 - Top in Thailand for A-Level Art and Top in Thailand for AS Digital Media and Design 

2023 - Top in the World for AS Art and Top in Thailand for AS Digital Media and Design

2024 - Top in Thailand for AS and A-Level  Digital Media and Design

2025 - Top in Thailand for A-Level Art and Design and Top in Thailand for AS and A-Level Digital Media and Design 

Key Skills & Teaching Experience 

Highly experienced in the design and delivery of KS3, KS4 and KS5 Art and Design Curriculum within a British International School context

Extensive knowledge and experience in the delivery, moderation and assessment of EdExcel and CIE examination Specifications across IGCSE and A-Level Art & Design, Photography and Digital Media & Design (0400, 9479, 9481)

Experienced Faculty Leader for the Creative Arts as well as pastoral experience as Head of House 

International Award Leader and Assessor for Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards

Specialist in Photography and Digital Media & Design with a proven track record of success and innovation

Consistently outstanding annual examination results alongside proven success in high student uptake for Creative Arts subjects

Individual student success stories alongside consistently outstanding examination results 

Outstanding results are of course important but I am also personally invested in each of my students reaching or exceeding their full potential no matter what their ability. I coach each student through their own creative journey ensuring  all students develop the foundational skills required in Art, Photography and Digital Media in order to succeed in a chosen future career in the Arts., whilst also enabling them to find their own voice within the realm of creative expression.  I have a  proven track record of successfully introducing Photography and Digital Media as examination subjects at two International Schools which has been a hugely popular additional pathway for students within the Creative Arts.  

Please refer to the Student Portfolio section for a deeper dive into the work my student's produce.

Community Service in Thailand & India 

Community service plays a vital role in supporting those in need and instilling the right values within the students in our care. I planned and led a yearly Community Service trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand and later extended this concept to India. These trips  were designed to utilise my teams skills within the Creative Arts to regenerate schools in impoverished areas whilst also immersing ourselves within the community to enhance the experience for students and give them a greater appreciation for how other communities live around the world.  I would love the next school I work at to have strong community links and I would happily play a role in helping develop such programmes. 

The award winning Garden International School Enquiry Programme 

I was a leading team member in the development and implementation of the award winning Enquiry Programme at Garden international School.  In my time at Garden we were awarded recognition as a 'Distinguished Apple Educator' school due to the innovative use of Apple technology across the school - particularly within the delivery of the Enquiry Programme. Across 2 days students were challenged to explore solutions to real world problems and present their conceptual outcomes in an 'Enquiry Expo' with a focus on Social Innovation, Design Thinking and Actionable Solutions. This programme was also shortlisted for the British International School Initiative of the Year category of the TES Independent School Awards 2016. 

Creativity during Covid - Quarantine Project 

The global lockdown has certainly been an unusual and challenging situation for us all. But often in great times of adversity humankind displays some of its best attributes - creativity, imagination, innovation, determination - all of the aspects that make us truly human. In this respect the Quarantine Exhibition was born. An opportunity for our students, and entire school community, to be creative and playful, in order to create artworks that document this unique time in our lives. To show us all that in challenging times we can prevail, even prosper and create Art to celebrate who we are, and what we can be. This work has been produced by students across both campuses, from children in Year 4 up to our young adults in Year 13. The response was so positive we had to select a series of pieces to form the exhibition. Thank you to everyone that created and contributed.

Annual Bangkok Prep Poetry Anthology 

I annually collaborate with the English Department to curate the Poetry Anthology. A celebration of Art and Poetry. This proves a fantastic way to expose our wider community to the outstanding work produced by the students in the Art Department.