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Governing Body and MANAGEMEnT

Governing body

The Committee of Elected Parents is the governing body of English 31 with its siège social at Centre d'Affaires Les Méliades, 14 chemin de La Chasse, 31770 Colomiers.

The committee’s role is to:

  • Provide oversight of the association’s operations
  • Give strategic decisions in line with membership’s directions
  • Ensure proper and transparent governance for the benefit of all members
  • Accredited  status  by  fulfilling  the  criteria  for  International  Sections and for Cambridge International Examinations board.
  • Manages the finances
  • Nominate the director of the section

Each year an important item on the agenda of the Association’s AGM (Annual General Meeting), normally held in November, is the potential election of new committee members.

Serving on the committee requires time, energy and commitment but committee members play an important role in ensuring the ongoing success of the Section.

You can find our statutes below. (French)

Penny dickinson, president

Having lived here since 2003, I am British-born whilst my children were born in Toulouse. They thrive in English 31's secondary programme and being involved with the Committee to give something back to their education is a true privilege for me.

Ten years ago I followed my dream, left a corporate career in aerospace behind, and set up my own business providing walking tours in Toulouse. Having previously taught English in Japan for two years and studied for a year in Hungary my thirst for international life has found its natural home in SW France!

ADRIAN KITCHER, treasurer

My wife and I have enjoyed living in the region since 2003. Our two children were born in Toulouse and have fully integrated into an international lifestyle and are learning both English and French at school.  

I am a qualified Accountant working in Airbus and have decided to join the Committee as Treasurer in 2018 to support the excellent work offered by the Association.

Keith Philpott, secretary

 

I am originally from London but I married a lovely French lady and moved to Toulouse in 2003.  Our two children were born in Toulouse, and my daughter is studying in the OIB programme at the Lycée Victor Hugo.  I now feel toulousain and I became a French national in 2014.

I work at Airbus as an International Tax Manager, managing our relationships with the authorities in France, Germany, the UK & Spain.  I spend my spare time following English football closely, reading, watching the night sky with my telescope, and now working with an interesting group of people on the English 31 Committee.

STEPHANE ADAM

I am French but I lived in India as a child and that is where I learned to speak English. When I returned to France, I joined the Sections Internationales de Sèvres (near Paris) from sixième to Terminale. I moved to Toulouse in 1997 to study aeronautical engineering and I currently work for Airbus.
I am married and I have three boys who learned English during our three years in the US (2015-2018). They are all enrolled in English 31, one in collège and two in the weekly scheme in primary. As an OIB graduate with great memories of my years in Sections Internationales, I am thrilled that my children are able to benefit from a similar bilingual and multicultural experience with English 31.

yaiza conception martin

We are a Spanish family with 3 kids in primary living in Toulouse since 2015. English 31 has given us the opportunity of keeping an English environment while getting deep into the French educational system. With a science degree in Mathematics, a Master in Business studies and having worked always in an international environment we love the idea of opening the world to our kids.  My personal interests are being with my family, friends and continue learning when possible.

Susannah crabol

I was born in England but moved to South West France soon after finishing at university, where I have now been living for 24 years.

I have worked in different countries and industries, where I have observed the great benefits of the multi-cultural exchanges and experiences, and am keen to encourage these experiences within the younger generations, just as my children have been able to benefit from in English 31 in primary and secondary school.

I presently work for Airbus in pilot & cadet flight training, covering the implementation of this training and working closely on flight training communication. I hope to bring this experience with learning and education and my communication & contractual background to English 31 and am delighted to be part of the committee.  When I am not working, I love cooking, doing sport and am presently doing my PPL (private pilot licence).

ESTELLE QUARMEAU


I am French, and I have lived 4 years in RI, USA, with my family. Coming back to Toulouse with 3 bilingual children we naturally turned ourselves to the Section Internationale Britannique with English 31.  We couldn't have made better choice for our children. That is why I decided to join the committee.
 
As an Electronic Engineer and Project Manager, I am convinced that a bilingual education will be a stand-out factor in the future.
I am happy to bring my knowledge to the association to help her grow in size and in notoriety starting with defining social events.

Jenni REid, LEarning & Education Sub-CommitteE

My French-Australian family and I moved to the Toulouse area in 2017 after having lived in the UK, the USA, China and various parts of France. We were thrilled to discover the English 31 community with its diverse families and its shared interest in bilingual education.

Over the years I have worked in numerous settings as a speech and language pathologist and as a teacher of English as an additional language.

My personal interests include travel, well-being and everything culinary. 

Jay Russell

As a family, we (myself, my French wife, and our three children) travelled around the world for my work for more than 20 years. But we always planned to move to the wonderful Toulouse area, so here we are! Our three children are in the OIB program (now two, as one has graduated), and I am pleased to help out on the English 31 board with remunerations, communications and technical issues. We are very thankful for the great fit English 31 provides to our Franco-Americans children, and very grateful for the excellent tutelage and ambience in English 31.

Management and Administrative Team

Xavier vuiller, Director

I got appointed as Director of this British Section back in 2017. I was born in France and left the country in my early twenties after I graduated in British and American History and Literature and completed an MA in British Literature. I then trained and qualified as a teacher in Cardiff. I worked in education in the UK for twenty years with positions in Wales and the Midlands where I headed a department and eventually took on an leadership role in a large comprehensive school in Nottinghamshire. My adult life and the person I am now have been shaped by my life in the UK and by my childhood in France. I suppose that this binary combination is a perfect fit for my role which is not simply about managing and leading our teaching of English provision across two subjects but also about bilingualism. I am thoroughly enjoying my job and understand why my predecessor did it for over 30 years!

Corine Wuhrmann, accountant

I first joined English 31 as a family member back in 2009 when my oldest son enrolled in the program. We had spent 8 years in the US right before, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Hartford, Connecticut where our second son was born (the little sister came later in Toulouse). I had different volunteering experiences allowing me to fully appreciate cross cultural relationships. 

I previously worked for small companies in sales and more recently in accounting and HR in different areas, from fashion to high tech. I am very pleased today that I am part of English 31 team, as I enjoy working within small entities in an open cultural environment.

Besides working I enjoy outdoor activities such as running and hiking. I am also a member of an association helping homeless people as this cause is important to me.

marie-Anne Tarr, administrative assistant-primary

I have been a member of English 31 as a parent for many years with my 3 children being part of the programme and have joined the admin team in November 2019.

I have a degree in modern foreign languages and did my PGCE in Lancaster in 1998. I was a French and German teacher in a secondary school in the UK for 6 years and moved to this area in 2005 where I enjoyed being a full time mom until  November 2019.

Jessica Wilhide, Administrative assistant-secondary

I joined the English 31 administrative team in November 2019 after having spent 15 years abroad. I am originally from France but I have worked all my adult life in Japan and in the United-States.

I have worked for several non-profit organizations and in higher education in program management, fundraising and communications. 

Since being back, I enjoy cooking the local food, seeing my family and (re)discovering the area.