David Griffiths on Building Resilience and Responsibility in Learners

Edarabia had the opportunity to interview David Griffiths principal of Nexus International School Malaysia, a leading international school known for its innovative and inclusive approach to education. In this exclusive interview, Principal Griffiths shares his insights on the school's strategic plans for 2025, the challenges and opportunities in the field of education, and how Nexus International School Malaysia empowers students with the skills and mindset to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

1. What are your plans for 2025?

   Our Nexus Way tends to guide all of our strategic planning and decision making.

   Innovation: For 2025 we are focusing on our strategic plan for digital literacy and the way in which we harness technology (and increasing the use of AI) for learning.

   Inclusion: In 2025, we have already strengthened and will continue to strengthen our resources and programmes for ensuring that all learners are able to achieve academically and holistically. This includes our Foundation English Programme (for those learners who need English support), our SEN department and also creating more opportunities to nurture the gifts and talents of our high achievers.

   (Global) Mindsets: Nexus learners make a difference in the World and we enable them to do this through teaching learners resilience, relevance and responsibility. We have whole school events such as Global Goals Week as well as incorporating sustainability and entrepreneurship into our curricula right the way through the school.

   Relationships: We are developing the relationships that the different stakeholders in the school have with each other. Belonging is key to children feeling safe and secure in their environment and when they have this ‘relaxed alertness’ learning is enhanced.

   In order to do all this we have improved and extended many of our facilities. For example, in July we will be building a 6th floor on our Boarding House.

2. How do you decide what to focus on academically each year, and which new ideas are you pursuing?

   We constantly survey our staff, learners and parents and collect huge amounts of data about learning and the progress of our learners. This data informs everything from the required Professional development for our staff to Department Action Plans (DAPs) and School Improvement Plans (SIPs). Being part of a larger education group such as Taylors Schools means we also receive great support from the Board of Governors and central office.

3. What challenges do you anticipate in the field of education over the next 5 years?

   The development of technology and AI is a major opportunity. It is incredible what we can do using a plethora of AI tools now, and this will only get better. But this also comes with its challenges, and it would be remiss of us not to consider issues such as academic integrity and false and biased reporting. These important skills of critical thinking and consideration form part of the curriculum at Nexus and will need to be constantly updated. A sense of curiosity for teachers and leaders is also essential to keep growing and developing.

4. How do you keep students interested in learning, especially those who struggle or seem unmotivated?

   Skilled teachers and an enhanced environment enable a sense of curiosity and engagement. We have been able to attract the very best international teachers and ensure they continue to learn through data driven professional development.

   For our younger learners we are instilling a sense of wonderment in the natural world with our Forest School and outdoor, experiential learning programmes. Our learners become stewards of their natural worlds and are motivated by their ability to take responsibility for their own learning.

5. How does the school ensure all students feel welcome and have the same chances to succeed?

   Relationships are a key aspect of the Nexus Way and we put immense effort into ensuring our learners, especially those who are boarding at the school, feel welcome. This sense of belonging is enhanced through our celebrations of different cultures and beliefs. Our tagline of Embracing Diversity and Challenging Minds helps us to remember this. There are several ways in which learners can gain leadership roles in the school and our school and boarding councils are very active.

6. How proactive is the school in matters of student stress and bullying?

   We are very proactive in that there are several opportunities for learners to give feedback to the school on any issues that they are facing. We have dedicated Learner Groups that are available for learners who are facing issues as well as a trained counsellor, nurse and boarding parent staff. The Heads of School and Boarding meet on a weekly basis with these councils and this enables significant learner voice in the decision making of the school management.

7. How do you help students build the skills they need for life after graduation?

   In our boarding house, learners are geared towards independent living from Year 10 onwards. We ensure that learners are working on the skills necessary to be lifelong learners throughout the curriculum.

   From the holistic development of learners through the International Early Years and Primary Curriculums to the interdisciplinary aspects of our Middle Years Curriculum and the rigour of the IBDP. Nexus alumni always comment on how well the programmes here at Nexus, with its Academic rigour as well as other aspects such as CAS and the Extended Essay, prepared them for university life.

8. How involved are parents and the community in making the school better?

   Following COVID, we made a concerted effort to involve parents more in school life. From our active PTF, parent volunteers in classrooms, and full programme of parent workshops, we involve the parents fully in school life. We have regular parent feedback sessions and a termly Q&A session with the Principal and Heads of school. It is well documented that when parents are active and involved in their children’s education, outcomes are improved.

9. How do you develop a school culture that attracts and keeps great teachers?

   This is done from a Board and Leadership level through enabling a sufficient budget for Professional Learning. From an operational level, we enable systems for collecting data on what teachers need in order to get better at what they do. Teachers then feel that their professional development is valued and enabled. This has led to a high level of retention of teachers at Nexus.

10. Do teachers at your school have growth opportunities for leadership roles?

    Absolutely, we regularly look at what individual teachers at every level need to get better at what they do and are helped to make the next steps in their careers. Several of our teachers are supported through leadership training such as the Leadership Matters Course, run by myself and a Senior teacher, Masters degrees and we currently have two staff studying for their Doctorates. We are always looking at succession planning and when there are no positions available here, as is sometimes the case with a low turnover, we have the other Taylors Schools to consider.

11. Which after-school activity would you say has the biggest positive impact on a student’s future?

    We have a wide variety of after school activities and each are incredibly important and useful to those who take them. I would not single out just one as our school is focussed on the individual learners and what is best for them.

12. As a Principal, what is your definition of success?

    It makes me very proud when our learners use what they have learnt to make a positive difference in the world. I believe success is when our learners are happy in life and are kind, considerate, caring and curious.

13. If you had the opportunity to inspire the world in one sentence, what would that sentence be?

    Embrace diversity, nurture kindness, and harness curiosity to shape a peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable future for all.