New Staff

Primary School

Carly Cadence Smith, Primary School Teacher

Carly has a rich background shaped by her experiences in diverse cultures and languages, having lived in Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and Colombia. She returned to Colombia in 2018, where she began her teaching journey. Throughout her career, Carly has taught both Key Stage 1 and 2, and she is excited to join BSM for the next academic year to experience Early Years education.

Carly holds a degree from the University of British Columbia, majoring in English Language with a minor in Family Studies and Early Childhood Education. She has also completed a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education at the University of Ottawa, specializing in Teaching and Learning.

Carly believes in fostering a nurturing and inclusive classroom that promotes respect, creativity, and critical thinking, empowering students to become global citizens. She is passionate about creating a safe and enjoyable learning environment while fostering a dynamic and challenging academic atmosphere for her students.

 

Sarah Macdonald, Primary, School Teacher

Ms Sarah completed an Environmental Science degree from the University of Glamorgan before completing a PGCE specialising in Early Years from the University of Hull in 2007. Since then, she has worked in three different international schools in Cairo, Egypt.

She has spent her teaching career in Early Years and Key Stage 1 teaching students from Preschool to Year 2. She has substantial leadership experience with a total of 14 years in positions including Year Leader and Head of Key Stage.

Ms Sarah is passionate about play-based learning and believes that all children should be given the opportunity to learn through play regardless of their age, ability, or where they are in their learning journey. She believes that a play-based approach teaches children skills such as critical thinking, resilience, problem-solving, collaboration, communication and creativity. All of these are important future skills that can be applied to any potential future job.

Ms Sarah is excited to be a part of the BSM school community and is keen to explore the Philippines with her two sons who share her love of travelling and scuba diving. 

Peter Jennings

Mr Jennings has been teaching for 27 years and has taught in the UK, the Middle East, and in Southeast Asia. He has taught every year group from Year 1 to Year 6. During this time, he has been a Deputy Head, Key Stage Coordinator in Key Stage 1 & 2 as well as a Sustainability Coordinator. However, he loves being in the classroom and his child-centred approach to teaching ensures that each child is nurtured and supported so that they can do their best and flourish. He is passionate about the environment and encourages children to be custodians of the planet.

When he is not in school Mr. Jennings enjoys triathlons, rugby, and photography. Most recently he has completed a series of charity runs for Motor Neurone Disease MND. He will be joining Mrs Jennings and their children Millie and Monty and are looking forward to rediscovering the Philippines.

 

Jo Jennings

Mrs Jennings is a passionate teacher, with a wealth of experience gathered in a variety of educational settings, including in the UK, Middle East and South East Asia. Since graduating 1997, Mrs Jennings has undertaken a range of roles including that of Class Teacher, Headteacher, Consultant and Lecturer of Trainee Teachers at Oxford Brookes University. She has also completed a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Warwick, and continues to engage in educational research.

As an advocate of holistic education, Mrs Jennings is absolutely dedicated to providing the best possible learning experiences for all children and creates a nurturing classroom where every child thrives. She is always keen to learn of the passions of the children and ensure that opportunities are created to enable every child to flourish. With a love of literacy, she is also keen to share her own passions, including writing creatively for pleasure and immersing herself in the wonderful world of children's literature.

When she isn’t teaching, Mrs Jennings enjoys everything which is creative, not least tending and designing her garden, travelling to remote places, scuba diving in tropical waters, and playing cards with her children. Mrs Jennings and her husband, Mr Jennings, have two children, who attend Senior School and University

Andrew Wooldridge

Mr Wooldridge has been a dedicated educator since 2012, beginning his career in Sheffield, England before moving to Thailand. In 2025, he joined the British School of Milan (BSM). He holds a BA Honours Degree in Business and Marketing and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education from Sheffield Hallam University. Recently, he achieved his Level 3 UK Forest School accreditation, qualifying him as a Forest School Leader.

From the outset of his career, Mr Wooldridge sought a profession that was both rewarding and creative, finding teaching to be an enriching path. He is passionate about fostering a nurturing, collaborative, and supportive classroom environment where every student feels a strong sense of belonging and inclusivity. He also prioritises creating a safe space where children are encouraged to take responsible risks, build resilience, and develop into thoughtful, globally minded individuals.

In his personal life, Mr Wooldridge is a father to two young boys. Outside of work, he values quality family time and enjoys activities such as football, running, and staying fit.

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Senior School

Monika Birimac, School Counsellor

Mrs Birimac comes from Sydney, Australia and spent part of her childhood in Austria, where her father is from. This sparked a passion for exploring diverse cultures through living in different countries. She brings with her a wealth of experience as a dedicated school counsellor, with over 14 years of expertise in international schools across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. She holds a degree in Psychology, a Master of Counselling, and a postgraduate certificate in Positive Psychology. Additionally, she is a proud member of the Australian Psychological Society.

With a deep commitment to enhancing children's well-being, Mrs Birimac is devoted to creating safe and supportive environments where students can thrive. She believes in the importance of individual and family well-being and the vital role that positive relationships play in a young person's development. Mrs Birimac collaborates with parents to explore their children's unique needs and developmental stages that enable families to support their children to flourish and reach their full potential.

As a mother of three grown daughters, Mrs Birimac fully appreciates the joys and challenges of parenting. She also enjoys running, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. Alongside her husband, Mr Birimac, they are excited about their new adventure at BSM and becoming part of the school community.

We are thrilled to welcome Mrs Birimac to our school community and look forward to her contributions to helping our children flourish.

Rowenna Menzies, English Teacher    

Rowenna Menzies joins BSM as an accomplished educator with extensive international experience in British and bilingual education systems. A graduate of Aberystwyth University with a BA (Hons) in English Literature and Fine Art, she also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Education specializing in English Literature with TEFL.

Her career began in the UK, where she spent ten years at a bilingual Welsh-English school, initially teaching English and Art before advancing to Head of Department (English) and whole-school EAL coordinator. This experience laid the foundation for her international career, which has spanned Thailand, Brazil, and China.

Rowenna is joining BSM from Dulwich College where she teaches Language and Literature with Drama, and is a Collaboration Lead for English across the Dulwich International Schools network. Passionately committed to student well-being, she is also Head of Year. 

Outside the classroom, Rowenna enjoys art & theatre, and is the mother of two children; Jayden (11) and Amber (8). The family is thrilled to join British School Manila and is looking forward to becoming an active member of our educational community.

Elizabeth O'Sullivan, English Teacher

Elizabeth is an English teacher with over 20 years experience who has been living and working in Asia since 2006. Her most recent post was in Hong Kong, at South Island School, and before that, she worked at British schools in Thailand and Indonesia. 

Elizabeth grew up in the UK and taught in London for the first few years of her career. She has worked as a Head of EAL and a pastoral leader within schools, as well as an English Literature and Language teacher. Her passion is English literature and drama, as well as going to the theatre, History of Art, creative writing, swimming, Scrabble and completing the daily Wordle. 

Elizabeth arrived in Manila in July 2024 and has been Secretary of the BSM PTA since August 2024. She has two children, one of whom is currently in Year 12 at BSM and the other attends university in Canada.

Elizabeth is delighted to begin teaching at BSM in August and is enjoying life in Manila.

Susana Rodriguez, Spanish Teacher

Susana was born in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, where she completed her Degree in Primary Education, specialising in English Language. At 21, she moved to Ireland, beginning her career as an Early Years Educator. Two years later, she joined an International School in Dublin as a Teaching and Learning Assistant, where she discovered her passion for teaching Spanish and sharing her culture.

Determined to develop her expertise, Susana pursued a Master’s in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language, alongside various professional development courses. She transitioned to a Secondary School Spanish Teacher role, gaining five years of experience teaching IB MYP and DP Spanish. For the past two years, she has served as Head of the Languages Department, overseeing Spanish, German, Chinese, French, and EAL. This leadership role has strengthened her curriculum development, team management and strategic planning skills.

Recognising the growing role of technology in education, Susana also completed a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology and Digital Competencies. This has equipped her with the skills to integrate innovative digital tools, interactive learning platforms and new learning strategies into her teaching, enhancing student engagement and language acquisition.

Susana is delighted to be joining BSM, eager to contribute her experience in innovative teaching methodologies, intercultural learning and student-centred education. She looks forward to immersing herself in a new culture and collaborating with a dynamic international community.

Beyond teaching, Susana loves traveling, cooking, and exploring new cuisines. She also loves playing volleyball and enjoys spending time outdoors. 

Ian Pomeroy

Mr Pomeroy grew up in Birmingham, in the UK, where he developed a questionable love of Aston Villa, which was just across the park from his secondary school. He has worked in education for 25 years, formerly as an English teacher and most recently as a College Counsellor. Mr Pomeroy was previously Head of English and CPD Coordinator at BSM and is delighted to be returning to the school, some 17 years after he left.  

Having started his career teaching in the UK, Mr Pomeroy has spent 12 years working at international schools in Hong Kong, two years in the English department at BSM, and now joins us from Indonesia where he has been a university guidance counsellor at British School Jakarta for the past three and a half years. 

Mr Pomeroy has a BA in English, an MA in English, Globalization & Language Policy from UCL as well as a Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA. He has presented at international conferences on university guidance and also had a stint teaching doctors how to teach at the Royal College of Physicians in London.

College counselling for Mr Pomeroy is the best job in a school, since it allows him to help students to present their best side to universities, celebrate their strengths, achievements and individuality, as well as helping guide them to achieve their potential. Mr Pomeroy believes in an optimistic but realistic 'best fit' approach to college counselling, working with students and families for positive outcomes. 

Mr Pomeroy is delighted to be returning to BSM and is excited to be joining the warm, friendly and supportive school community which he remembers so fondly. He returns to the Philippines with his partner and is excited to explore the many islands and beaches, as well as the colourful festivals like Dinagyang and Ati-Atihan. He asks that you are patient if he slips into Bahasa Indonesia whilst trying to remember his Tagalog from all those years ago! 

Allan Birimac