From BA Educational Studies with Dance and PGCE (QTS) to becoming Head of Infant School, Paula Craigie gained her BA in Educational Studies with Dance in 1995 and her Postgraduate Certificate in Education (QTS) in 1997.
Since then, Paula has gone from West London to Southeast Asia, where she now leads one of the top international schools in Singapore—Tanglin Trust School.
From teaching, to inspecting, to mentoring, her career journey is all about excellence in education and lifting others as she climbs- which is exactly why the University of Roehampton has bestowed her with the Alumni Outstanding Achievement award.
Deciding which degree
When Paula was weighing up her university options, she wasn’t ready to give up either of her two big passions- education and dance.
Roehampton was one of the few places that let her explore both in one degree, and the bonus? It was close to London without being too close to the chaos of central. The location and flexibility sealed the deal.
What made Paula’s time at Roehampton so special?
For Paula, uni life at Roehampton wasn’t just about lectures and coursework. It was a space to grow, meet new people, and just enjoy a really beautiful campus.
Reflecting on that time, she wishes she had thrown herself even more into the uni experience outside of academics- but even then, it left a lasting impression.
Highlights of the degree
One of the highlights of her course was the way it allowed her to dive into different elements of education and dance at different times- giving her space to explore, reflect, and really get to grips with both worlds.
It wasn’t a one-size-fits-all degree, and that made all the difference.
Real–world experiences that hit different
Part of Paula’s degree included empirical research, and she didn’t shy away from getting stuck into some seriously challenging environments. From a residential school for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties to working in a heroin rehabilitation centre, these experiences were tough but transformative.
They showed her what education could really mean and confirmed she wanted to use her career to make a difference.
What is Paula doing now and how did Roehampton help her get there?
Paula landed her first NQT (Newly Qualified Teacher) job in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, where she benefited from high-quality training and mentoring.
That role led to more leadership opportunities and eventually a Best Practice Research Scholarship from the DfEE during her MA at UCL’s Institute of Education. From there, her career went global.
She taught in Kuala Lumpur before moving to Tanglin Trust School in Singapore.
Now Head of an 8-form-entry international infant school, Paula’s responsibilities are as impressive as her CV—she’s led Ofsted inspections, mentors Roehampton and UCL students, supports COBIS with international school accreditations, and serves as an Executive Coach to new headteachers.
Her impact stretches across continents, but it all began at Roehampton.
Paula’s top tips
“Do what you love.”
Pick a course and career direction that genuinely interests you, and success will follow. She also encourages students to make the most of the university experience beyond classes- network, enjoy the campus facilities and participate in sports, activities and events, it’s a unique time that goes by fast.
Looking back
Even with all she’s achieved, Paula admits she would have tried to get more involved in the wider life of the university.
Living on campus was great, but there were more opportunities she could have taken advantage of. Hindsight, right?
Career highlights so far
When you’ve had a career like Paula’s, there are bound to be plenty of proud moments- but being Head of a high-achieving international school and shaping the learning journeys of countless children is definitely up there.
On top of that, helping so many fellow educators step into leadership through mentoring and coaching has been incredibly rewarding for her.
Final thoughts
From Roehampton to Singapore, Paula Craigie’s story is a reminder of how far passion, purpose, and a solid education can take you. She’s proof that combining your interests and staying open to growth can lead you somewhere amazing- not just professionally, but personally too.
So whether you’re deep into your degree or still figuring things out, take it from Paula, enjoy the journey, follow what excites you, and don’t be afraid to take that next step, you never know where it might lead.
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