(P) Why I came to Romania not Germany and why our school changed its name to King’s Oak

Susan Eriksson, Head of School of the newly rebranded King’s Oak British International School (Formerly InSPE) writes about her choice of coming to Bucharest to run the international school, and how the school changed its name. "Ask most people in Bucharest about InSPE and they say, “Who?” We are a hidden gem in the North of the city only 10 minutes from Pipera. A British school providing an excellent education with small classes and personalised learning, but nobody knows about us. So the difficult decision was made to rebrand the school to arrive at a new name and a new logo that would mirror the ethos and soul of the school." "In true child centred learning fashion, our children were involved in every aspect of the rebranding. They drew what they loved best about their school, wrote how they felt, their dreams and aspirations and what made the school so special. We worked closely with the talented team at PQB who took the children’s ideas and designed our logo. They studied the drawings, and what the children had written and looking through all their initial designs you can see the evolution of the new identity." "So why Romania? I am a very experienced headteacher and School Inspector from the UK, I have led 5 previous schools, 2 Internationally and 3 in Britain and every new school brings its delights and challenges. I was in the fortunate position this summer of holding three job offers and I chose Bucharest purely because of the school. I fell in love with The International School for Primary Education (InSPE) the moment I walked through the door. As an inspector you very quickly identify the wow factor in a school and InSPE had it! The children were engaged, active and learning in every classroom I entered, and the teachers were smiling!" "There were, I knew some issues, some disagreements and some problems in the previous year, and I was prepared. It was nothing new, as a Headteacher/ National College leader and consultant in the UK I frequently had to mentor schools and train staff." "However those particular skills weren’t needed at InSPE. I have never worked with such a committed, talented and collegiate faculty of teachers. They all have one aim - to engage, inspire and facilitate learning in all the children at the school." "We now have a new name and our new logo, BUT that ethos and idea I noticed on first setting foot in to the school is still there, but now perhaps more visible. Come and see our very special school, “King’s Oak”- and decide for yourself." Contact information: Susan Eriksson, Head of School 72 Petre Aurelian, Greenlake Residences, Bucharest | +40 21 380 3535 | officereception@inspe.ro (p) - this article is an advertorial