A key feature of the school is its promotion of creativity and critical thinking for all its students.

Melanie has been passionate about education and culture all her life and has had a successful career as an educationalist in England, Hungary and Russia. Her first degree from the University of Nottingham was in Russian, and she lived and worked in Moscow and St Petersburg as a teacher, translator and interpreter for the SDA church.
 
She has extensive experience of education in Budapest. This comes both from teaching and leadership in British international schools in Budapest and from the experiences of her two children, Rose and Thea, who attended Hungarian state schools as well as foundation and international schools.

Her first passion in education is children’s literature and drama. While on maternity leave with her younger daughter, she completed a Masters Degree in Children’s Literature and she has written and directed several plays for children and young people.

In her free time she enjoys cycling, theatre and travel. 

Although she has lived in Hungary for over 20 years and is integrated into this country, speaks the language and cares deeply about its fate, she is still very much a “Lancashire Lass”, proud of her British roots and the heritage of the north west of England, cradle of the industrial revolution. She feels she belongs to both countries.

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?

I came in the late 1990s for a two year maternity cover for a Hungarian friend, teaching English and Russian at the University of Gödöllő, and have been here ever since.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?

Yes, l lived in Russia for two years, one year as a student in Moscow and one after graduation working in St Petersburg as a translator and interpreter.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?

The wonderful choices of thermal spas in Budapest and the countryside.

4. Friends are in Budapest for the weekend - what must they absolutely see and do? 

Take in the view of the Danube panorama from Gellért hill. A morning stroll through the Jewish district. Cycling on Margit Island or the City Park. Obviously, a thermal spa: I would recommend the old Turkish Vej Bej baths.  And a movie at one of the art cinemas.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?

Káposztás tészta with lashings of black pepper.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?

Hummus and avocado.

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?

The verb suffix -getni/-gatni as it is unique to Hungarian. When you add it to a root verb it means ‘pretend to do’ or ‘sort of do’ something. Under Communism the famous phrase was dolgozgatunk és fizetgetnek, we pretend to work and they pretend to pay!

8. What do you miss most from home? 

Marks and Spencers

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?

Scriptwriting or anything in the theatre.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?

BKK Ticket inspector in Budapest for, I think, obvious reasons.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?

Skiathos, Greece on the trail of Mamma Mia!

12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?

I would love to explore South Africa.

13. Apart from temptation what can't you resist?

A cheap air ticket to go and see an old friend for a long weekend.

14. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?

My hobby was challenging my parents and making my bedroom into a health hazard.

15. Red or white?

Red hands down, especially Kadarka.

16. Books or films?

Books if alone, films with company.

17. Morning person or night person?

I am a night owl. Most of my thinking and creativity happens after midnight.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?

Bullying and trolling on social media, especially for vulnerable kids.

19. Buda or Pest?

Pest for the buzz and gritty reality, but I would like to add more leafy green like in Buda.

20. What would you say is your personal motto? 

Keep calm and eat biscuits.