Staff Profiles
Year 5 – Year 6
At St Christopher’s, our dedicated and well-qualified team of staff put your children at the heart of everything we do.
Year 5 – Year 6
Andrea O’Keeffe
Year 5 AO
Science Leader
Andrea is the typical ‘Third Culture Kid’. Although she has close ties to her Irish and Spanish background, she grew up primarily in Japan before completing her Bachelors degree in Natural Sciences at Durham University. She then went on to complete her PGCE teaching qualification at Cambridge University and taught in the Cambridge area for 4 years. Having experienced the international school circuit as a student, she decided to try teaching abroad and has not looked back. In the last five years, Andrea has taught in Cairo and now in Penang.
Outside of school, Andrea loves to play sports, such as basketball, football and squash, but equally enjoys exploring, be it rainforest, desert, underwater environments or cultural heritage.
Paul Hinchliffe
Year 5 PH
IPC Leader
Paul is from the United Kingdom and has a BSc in Psychology and Philosophy from Glamorgan University. He completed his PGCE in 2004 and has been working as a primary teacher and senior leader in London for the last 14 years. Despite his love of London, Paul has always had a passion for travel and it has been a long-term ambition to work in an international school. He is excited about the changes and challenges ahead and can’t wait get started at SCIPS.
Paul’s other loves include cricket, cycling, learning the piano and exploring new countries and cultures. He is looking forward to the adventures that he, his wife Meriel and his 18 month old son Barney will have whilst living in Penang.
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Dean Isherwood
Year 5 DI
Dean is from New Zealand and has a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning from the University of Canterbury. He has worked at a number of leading primary schools in Christchurch since gaining his teaching degree in 2005. Dean has been a team leader, supervising teacher, tutor teacher and school sport director. Before embarking on his teaching career, Dean worked as a lifeguard and beach education instructor where he taught primary-aged children about surf safety, the ocean and the role of surf lifeguards. This is where he developed a love of teaching.
This is Dean’s first international school posting and he is thoroughly enjoying the strong sense of community and camaraderie at SCIPS. Dean has been married to his wife Tamsyn for eight years and has two children, Flynn and Isla Ruby who both attend SCIPS. Dean and Tamsyn have always dreamt about living in South East Asia and are excited about exploring Penang and Malaysia.
In New Zealand, Dean has been actively involved in surf life saving, cricket and rugby coaching, surfing, snowboarding and voluntary community work for the last 20 years. His surf boat crew were New Zealand champions in 2016 and in 2017 were selected to represent New Zealand against the might of Australia. He will be competing at the World Surf Life Saving Championships in November at Glenelg Beach, Australia.
Tom Owst
Year 6 TO
Science Coordinator
Science Coordinator
Tom is from Hastings, a coastal town in the United Kingdom. After completing his degree in primary education at Canterbury Christ Church University, specialising in mathematics and art, he went on to work at a school in East Sussex for 3 years. At his previous school, Tom co-ordinated design and technology and was a mentor for newly qualified teachers.
Tom was once a tumbler (a form of gymnastics) and competed at a national level. He loves all sorts of sports, from swimming to running. Tom thoroughly enjoys the food and jungle that penang offers.
James McArthur
Year 6 JM
Maths Leader
James is from New Zealand and has a Bachelor’s Degree in History and a Graduate Diploma in Education from New Zealand’s oldest university; the University of Otago. He discovered his love for teaching while working as a teacher of English as a second language in South Korea and in Shanghai, China. This led to him returning to New Zealand to gain a Graduate Diploma in Education. Since then he has worked at Edwinstree Middle School in Hertfordshire, UK and then at St Stephen’s International School in Bangkok, Thailand. Over the last four years he has been a class teacher and Maori language coordinator at St Joseph’s Cathedral School in New Zealand. Professionally he is proud of his wide ranging involvement with many clubs, sports and volunteer work. James and his wife visited Malaysia on holiday in 2008 and have looked forward to coming back ever since.
James is accompanied by his wife Georgina and their daughter Nari, who is excited to start her schooling at SCIPS. His hobbies involve the outdoors such as hiking or running, he also does Jiu Jitsu and plays Chess.
Jennifer Finnigan
Year 6 JF
Jen is from the UK and holds a BSc in Zoology and an MSc in Ecotourism. While working in environmental education in Singapore she realised her passion for teaching. Once Jen returned to the UK she completed a PGDE at the University of the Highlands and Islands. When based in Singapore Jen spent a lot of time travelling around Malaysia, exploring the rainforests, snorkelling the coral reefs and trying all the delicious food. That was when she fell in love with Malaysia’s vibrant culture. After teaching in rural Scotland for the past couple of years she is now really looking forward to returning to Malaysia and joining the SCIPS family. In her free time Jen loves being outside in nature and enjoys exploring, water sports and cooking.