Staff Profiles
Year 3 – Year 4
At St Christopher’s, our dedicated and well-qualified team of staff put your children at the heart of everything we do.
Year 3 – Year 4
Rebecca Allan
Year 3 RA
Maths Leader
Becca is from York, a historic town in the north of England. She studied at York St John University for three years and qualified in 2012 with a BA (Hons) in Primary Education with QTS. From there she took a teaching post at a village school in Harrogate and worked there as a class teacher and as part of the senior leadership team for eight years. She has worked at SCIPS for the past three years in Year 5 and is now enjoying being part of the Year 3 team. Becca has enjoyed travelling all over South East Asia over the past three years and loves nothing more than being by the ocean, whether it’s reading on the beach, kayaking or snorkelling.
Hazel Garbes
Year 3 HG
Hazel is from Kaikōura, a small coastal town in the South Island of New Zealand. She moved to the city of Christchurch in 2015 to attend the University of Canterbury where she attained a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (primary). Since graduating, Hazel has taught at St Anne’s Catholic School. Over her 6 and a half years at St Anne’s, she taught students from 6-13 years of age.
Hazel is passionate about all things learning and is looking forward to experiencing how SCIPs does play! Hazel is an avid reader and a keen nature enthusiast. She spends her summers camping, fishing and exploring the outdoors. This year, Hazel spent two months travelling throughout Europe; exploring National Parks, heritage sites and vibrant cities. She is very excited to start her next chapter in Penang, teaching at SCIPs and exploring South East Asia and the treasures it provides.
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Grace Hill
Year 3 GH
Grace is from York, a walled city in the North of England. She studied Media Studies at York St John but after completing her degree, she realised she wanted a more meaningful career. She went on to be an au pair in France for 6 months and completed her PGCE when she returned home. She has now worked as a class teacher for 4 years at a school in York. In her free time, Grace loves going out for walks with her husband Tom and their dog, Pablo. She’s an avid reader and enjoys cooking. Grace loves to travel and enjoys learning about different cultures and trying new foods. Grace is so excited to move to Penang and become a part of the SCIPs family!
Matthew Booth
Year 4 MB
Matthew, originally from Manchester, England, a city known for music bands like Oasis and of course, Manchester United. Matthew is excited to start his new adventure teaching Year 4 at SCIPS.
After graduating with a Bsc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science at Sheffield Hallam University, Matthew then worked in a range of different jobs before deciding to follow his passion for teaching. He completed his PGCE at Manchester University and has been a class teacher for the past three years, taking on a variety of subject leadership roles along the way.
With a background in outdoor education, Matthew loves getting outside whenever he can. Canoeing, camping, and wild swimming are some of his favourite ways to spend his time. Now in a whole new part of the world, Matthew can’t wait to explore Malaysia, it’s famous food scene and share his enthusiasm for learning and adventures in Penang.
Chloe Walker
Year 4 CW
Chloe comes from Kent in the southeast of England. After A levels, Chloe went to Bath Spa University to study Business Management and media communications, but soon realised this was not her dream. She decided to change and completed a Teaching English as a Foreign Language course (TEFL) instead. This led to Chloe spending 6 months in Barcelona, Spain, teaching English to Spanish children, being an au pair and volunteering at an International school. This was when she realised her love for teaching and travelling. She returned to the UK and completed a 3-year Primary Education BA Hons degree at Canterbury Christchurch University in the historic cathedral city of Canterbury. She spent her free time and summers being a camp monitor in Spanish summer camps, teaching English in Hong Kong and travelling through Asia.
Chloe then taught Year 3 in England before relocating in 2015 to Madrid, Spain, to teach Year 2 children in an International School for 3 years. Chloe loves keeping active, exploring, snorkelling, trying new things and eating! She has now been in Penang for 7 years and is entering her eighth! So far, Ms Chloe has taught Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4 at SCIPS.
Chloe got engaged in April 2022 in Ipoh, then got married in 2023 here in Penang and the UK. She has just returned from maternity leave after having her baby boy. She has absolutely loved discovering this beautiful country, its people, its food (of course) and being part of the SCIPS family and community.
Francesca Blythe
Year 4 FB
Francesca has been teaching for over 12 years and is making the move to Penang from Bristol – a wonderful city in the Southwest of England. She studied at the University of the West of England and earned a BA (Hons) in Primary Education. When first qualifying Francesca taught for two years, before taking a year out to travel and volunteer in India. On her return, she taught for a further 3 years in North Somerset, before deciding the take the plunge and follow her dreams to teach internationally with her husband, moving to Qatar and then Egypt.
Francesca is passionate about creating a warm and nurturing environment in her classroom and helping pupils to become resilient life-long learners.
Francesca loves spending time in the great outdoors, doing yoga and cooking. Francesca is married to Sam, also a teacher at SCIPS, and she has two sons – Nathan and Jacob and a wonderful dog – Ralf. She loves travelling and exploring the world and cannot wait to join the wonderful community of SCIPS.