Grant Van Wyk

My name is Grant Van Wyk and I will be heading the Physical Health Education (PHE) department at CIS Hefei. I live in Hefei with my wife and infant daughter. Growing up in Cape Town, South Africa provided me the opportunity to partake in a variety of sports and outdoor activities which includes surfing, cricket, cycling, hiking, rock climbing to name a few, however, the sport which I decided to commit myself to and focus on improving my skill set is rugby. Playing rugby for a team in the Super A rugby league in South Africa for approximately ten years equipped me with the skills to work and lead in a team environment. I coached a variety of sports to children at a number of local schools and that is where my passion for teaching began to grow. 

I have been working in education in China for the past six and a half years and have been entrusted to manage various international teacher departments throughout my time here. Before coming to CISH I was appointed IB Diploma Programme Coordinator as well as the CAS educator at British Columbia Canada International high school situated at Hefei Number one High School, where I was introduced and grew a fondness to the IB curriculum and have since completed IB aligned workshops. I am currently half way through completing my Master of Arts in Education through Liverpool John Moores University in England. 

I aspire to create a student-centered class environment in which students are aware of the expectations but feel free to express themselves and develop core skills which will aid them in becoming well rounded successful individuals in the real world and in life after school.  As a high energy, compassionate and approachable individual with a passion for both sports and education, I am looking forward to joining and leading the PHE department at CIS this coming year. I am a firm believer of leading by example and I intend to do so from day one.