Meet our leadership team

Tom McGrath is the Principal of BSW, overseeing whole school operations and setting its strategic direction. He serves as the key link between the board and the senior leadership team. With over 20 years’ experience in international education, Tom has held successful headships in Poland, Portugal and the Caribbean. He holds degrees from the University of Limerick and Trinity College Dublin, with further studies in Applied Linguistics, International Education and International Relations. Tom is married to Beata and is a proud father to two daughters, Eilis and Aniela.

Emily Protheroe is Vice Principal at BSW, serving as Head of Pastoral and Designated Safeguard Lead. With over 13 years’ experience in primary education, she holds a BA in Primary Education from Roehampton University, London. Emily began her career in London before moving to a new English school in North Cyprus, then taught at a leading international school in Warsaw where she became Head of House and Head of Year. She also attended specialist STEAM training at MIT in Boston. Since joining BSW in 2020, she has remained passionate about student wellbeing and believes children learn best in a safe, engaging environment. She enjoys travelling, day trips and sharing meals with loved ones.

Patrycja Tupikowska is Head of Educational Administration at BSW, with 13 years’ leadership experience, including the past decade in international schools. As a founding team member, she has played a vital role in the school’s development. She oversees operations to ensure compliance with Polish educational law and international standards, and also leads the Polish Department, aligning the curriculum with the Ministry of Education. Patrycja holds degrees in Education Management, Early Years Education, English Philology with a teaching specialisation, and Business English. She is also a proud mother of two daughters, balancing her professional and family life with dedication.

Danielle Wilkinson is Head of Learning and Teaching at BSW. With over 20 years’ experience in education, she began her career in secondary schools in the UK before moving into primary education internationally. She has taught in the UK, Qatar and Poland, focusing on curriculum design and classroom practice. Danielle holds a PGCE in Teaching, a PGCE in Learning Technology, and an MA in Education Practice. She has held leadership roles including Head of Year, Head of Department and Curriculum Coordinator. Since joining BSW in 2021, she has been committed to building children’s confidence alongside academic success. She enjoys travelling and hopes to visit every country in Europe.

Jonathan Seymour is the Lower Primary / Key Stage 1 Phase Leader at BSW and currently teaches Year 2. He holds a BEd in Primary Education from the University of Gloucestershire and is now in his thirteenth year of teaching. After eleven years in the UK, he joined BSW in August 2023. With twelve years’ experience teaching Year 1 or 2, Jonathan brings strong subject knowledge and pastoral care to his leadership role. He oversees the education, behaviour and progress of pupils in Key Stage 1, while supporting staff with the day-to-day demands of teaching. Proudly Welsh, he enjoys food, time with family and cheering on Cardiff, Chelsea and Wales.

Michael Kelso-Franczak is the Upper Primary / Key Stage 2 Phase Leader and Behaviour Coordinator at BSW, currently teaching Year 3. He graduated from Goldsmiths College London and later completed his MA/PGCE at King’s College London and the University of Cumbria. With over ten years’ experience in primary education—primarily in Year 6—Michael has led core subjects and served as KS2 Phase Leader in London. He has specialised in raising standards in teaching, learning and behaviour, and was a lead Literacy moderator for Hackney Learning Trust. Having grown up in Sweden, Holland, the UK and the USA, he thrives in BSW’s international environment.

Matthew Furniss is the Upper Primary / Key Stage 2 Phase Leader at BSW, where he has taught Year 6 since joining in summer 2020. He completed his PGCE at Roehampton University in 2008 and began his career in an inner-city primary school in London. His international experience includes leading ICT and teaching Year 6 in Malaysia, teaching and leading at Dulwich College Beijing, and serving as UKS2 Phase Leader and Head of Primary in Sofia, Bulgaria. At BSW, Matthew brings this global insight to his leadership role. Outside of school, he enjoys reading, creative writing, running, and exploring the region with his family.

Emily Protheroe is Vice Principal at BSW, serving as Head of Pastoral and Designated Safeguard Lead. With over 13 years’ experience in primary education, she holds a BA in Primary Education from Roehampton University, London. Emily began her career in London before moving to a new English school in North Cyprus, then taught at a leading international school in Warsaw where she became Head of House and Head of Year. She also attended specialist STEAM training at MIT in Boston. Since joining BSW in 2020, she has remained passionate about student wellbeing and believes children learn best in a safe, engaging environment. She enjoys travelling, day trips and sharing meals with loved ones.

Dr Dorota Pietrzyk is SENCo and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead at BSW, with 20 years’ experience in special education. She lectures at two leading Warsaw universities on special educational needs and completed her PhD on dyslexia and its impact on language proficiency. A qualified educational, speech, and sensory integration therapist, Dorota brings deep academic insight and hands-on expertise. Her work focuses on pedagogical diagnosis, learning difficulties and child protection. At BSW, she integrates theory with practice, applying the latest methods to support each child’s individual learning journey.