Pupils in Year 6, 7 & 8 are assigned Prep House. There are six in total; three boys’ and three girls’.
Mr Nick Weinberg
Prep School House Master, Teacher of History
Nick Weinberg has been the House Master for Banks House since the beginning of the 2020/21 academic year, having previously taught at Harrow Hong Kong in 2019.
Nick studied History and Politics at the University of Warwick and originally trained and worked as a journalist, before moving into teaching. Nick obtained his PGCE from the Institute of Education and began his career teaching History in London. In 2016, he moved to Hong Kong and subsequently taught in a number of international schools, holding both pastoral and academic responsibilities.
Outside of school, Nick enjoys most sports, especially football. He is a keen supporter of Tottenham Hotspur, which is something that he has tried to keep quiet recently, given their poor form.
Nick is the husband of Letitia Spry, who is Head of Geography and the former Assistant House Mistress for Fry House. Both Nick and Letitia have relished supporting the Banks boys, primarily by ensuring a positive, secure and fun environment in which every pupil feels safe. They both really enjoy getting to know not just the pupils, but their families too, who they count as part of the extended Banks community.
Mr Tim Leverton-Griffiths
Prep School House Master and Teacher of Mathematics
Mr. Leverton-Griffiths grew up in Gloucestershire, England. Being a former member of Mensa, a sports coach and a professional cricketer, he decided that the teaching profession would suit him best; specialising in Science and Sports in his Bachelor of Education Degree at the University of Gloucestershire.
Before deciding that international schools were his future, he spent his formative teaching years in traditional English Prep Schools including Kelly College and Truro Prep School, leading Maths, Science, Sport, and child mentoring. Prior to joining Harrow Hong Kong, he was at Repton School, Dubai, for four years where he was Head of Year 6 and taught Mathematics, Science, cricket, and football.
Mr Michael Strickland
Prep School House Master and Teacher of History
Mr Strickland is a graduate in History from the University of Exeter in England, where he also completed a Master’s degree focusing on Early Modern and Medieval Studies. Before moving to Hong Kong, he taught at Norwich Cathedral School where he was Master in Charge of Hockey, and then later, Head of History.
Mr Strickland is a very keen sportsman. Having played first team hockey, cricket and rugby at school, it was hockey he decided to pursue at university, club and representative level. Since becoming a teacher, he has fulfilled numerous coaching roles and has led hockey and cricket tours to the Netherlands, Malaysia, and South Africa. He now prefers to play golf and tennis with his family in his spare time, and, as a keen skier, runs the snow sports trip here at the School.
During a successful game of beach cricket, Mr. Strickland met his wife Caroline on the Norfolk coast. Mrs Strickland shares her husband’s passion for education and adventure. She writes for Master Investor Magazine and the SCMP, and sits on the board of the Hong Kong Royal Geographical Society. Mr and Mrs Strickland have a young son, Harding, and a daughter named Lily.
Ms Jenny Mitchell
Prep School House Mistress and Teacher of Biology
Ms Mitchell grew up on a farm in the rural countryside of County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. She had long been interested in all things science related and so departed for Edinburgh in Scotland to study a BSc in Biological and Health Science at Queen Margaret University.
Having loved every part of her degree, Ms Mitchell knew she wanted to share her love of Biology and so decided to head to South East London where she completed her teacher training at The University of Greenwich. She took up her first teaching job at an all boys school in South East London where she spent 5 years teaching Science, Biology and was also Deputy Head of Year. It was in South East London that she met her husband, Mr James Brewer, a fellow science teacher and Deputy Head of Curriculum. They both decided to take up a teaching opportunity in the Middle East where they would stay for eight years. Both were part of the Science Department and in addition, Ms Mitchell was Head of Progress and Mr Brewer was Deputy Head (Academic). It was in the Middle East that they had their two children, Noah (age 7) and Ella (age 5).
Another opportunity came along to move to Malaysia and, having honeymooned in South East Asia and loved every minute of it, they decided to move to a boarding school where Ms Mitchell would take up a position as House Mistress of a girls’ boarding house. Ms Mitchell, Mr Brewer and their family enjoy being part of boarding and are excited to join the Harrow community in August and to take over Fry House. The Brewer family are excited to move to Hong Kong and explore everything this wonderful city has to offer.
Mrs Holly De Vies
Prep School House Mistress and Teacher of Biology
Born in Leicester, in the English Midlands, Mrs De Vies spent the majority of her life living in the Leicestershire countryside, residing in both Loughborough and Long Whatton.
Having always had a passion for travel, she opted to study at Aston University, Birmingham as it provided the opportunity for an international placement year. She graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Biology and English and spent a year working as a teaching assistant at The British International School of Kuala Lumpur. In Malaysia she met her husband, Theo, who was also working as a teaching assistant and here they were inspired to pursue careers in teaching.
With a Biology specialism, she completed her Science PGCE at Loughborough University and spent four years as a Biology Teacher at Loughborough High School, England. In her final two years there, she took a leadership role as Hastings House Mistress.
Mr and Mrs De Vies joined the Harrow community in 2016 as a Teacher of Biology and Year 5 Teacher respectively.
As a couple, they love to travel and spend their free time exploring Hong Kong and Asia. At the moment they are working on an ambitious travel goal: to visit 80 countries by 2020. In addition, they are both very active. Mrs De Vies is a keen runner and can usually be found on the Maclehose training for her next race, whilst Mr De Vies plays rugby for the Typhoons RFC and football in a local league.
In April 2019 Mr and Mrs De Vies were married in Koh Samui, Thailand. They are both absolutely delighted to be House Parents and are excited by their new challenge. They are looking forward to offering the Nightingale girls a smooth and fun-filled transition into the Upper School.
Mrs Rachel Bhadeshia
Prep School House Mistress and Teacher of Physical Education
Mrs Bhadeshia was born in Dublin, Ireland and moved to Bedford, England to study for a Bachelor of Education in Physical Education. She has worked at a number of prestigious girls schools in Ireland but mainly in the UK. At the moment Mrs Bhadeshia is a Head of Year 8 in an independent school in south east London, Sydenham High School, which is also part of the auspicious Girls Day School Trust. She comes to Harrow Hong Kong as a House Mistress for Parks House and to join the strong PE department. She is joined by her husband Avi, two girls Erin (10) and Leela (8), and their dog BB.
Pastoral care has always been at the forefront of Mrs Bhadeshia’s 23 years of teaching experience. It is the pivotal point upon which a pupil’s success can be achieved or not. Mrs Bhadeshia has had experience of being a House Leader who runs events for an entire school so will have many fresh and exciting ideas.
On the PE side of things Mrs Bhadeshia has coached a Year 8 netball team from local school competitions all the way through to English National Netball finals. As a former International netball player Mrs Bhadeshia is fully aware of what it takes both mentally and physically to get the best out of pupils.
In her spare time, she enjoys walking, cycling and water sports. Before embarking on her journey of motherhood Mrs Bhadeshia scaled Kilimanjaro with her husband. Her husband, Avi is a project manager for investment banks but prides himself on his ability to entertain kids. Certainly a fun loving house parent. He is also an avid cyclist who will be using the mountains as his playground.
BB the dog is very much a part of the Bhadeshia family and looks forward to getting to know the Hong Kong family.