At YCIS Shanghai, we believe great schools are built on great ideas — and even greater people. This year, we're delighted to welcome Victoria Benson as our new Head of Collaboration & Innovation.
For our families, this role means something practical and actionable: your child will benefit from the very best teaching and learning practices across all our campuses - not only those developed within their own classroom or campus. It means our teachers work together to share what genuinely works, so that proven approaches reach every student. And it means the insights we gather about how students learn are turned into real, visible support for students' growth — not numbers left sitting in a report.
So, who is Victoria, and how have her teaching and leadership experiences across three continents shaped the way she thinks about education?
"True innovation isn't about being flashy — it's about what actually makes a difference."
When asked to define educational innovation, Victoria's answer might surprise you.
"It's easy to be dazzled by the latest technology or trends. But true innovation is anything — no matter how simple — that genuinely improves how a child learns, thinks, or grows."
For Victoria, this means focusing on the fundamentals: critical thinking, reasoning, and independent analysis. Skills that aren't glamorous on social media but transform lives. It's a philosophy shaped by nearly two decades of experience across classrooms in China, Italy, and the UK — three very different systems, each offering its own lesson.
A global perspective, grounded in the classroom
Victoria's career has taken her from classrooms in the UK to China and Italy — and each experience has shaped both her own thinking and the way she supports teachers and students today. In the UK, she saw first-hand how being genuinely data-driven — using clear evidence to track each child's progress — helps teachers step in early and give every learner the right support. In China, she developed a deep respect for academic rigour and the discipline of real learning. And in Italy, she came to value a holistic, balanced approach that nurtures the whole child, not just exam results.
For our students, the result is a rare blend: high academic standards, informed by data, delivered with genuine care for each child's wellbeing and character. That, Victoria says, is the sweet spot — and it's exactly what she hopes to bring to every YCIS Shanghai classroom.
Data with purpose: From numbers to action
As the former Head of Academic Systems and Data, Victoria led the rollout of ManageBac across YCIS — transforming how families engage with learning.
Her philosophy on data is refreshingly straightforward:
"Data is only powerful if it leads to action. My focus is making sure insights don't just sit in reports, but actively shape what happens in the classroom."
This means spotting patterns early, tailoring support to individual students, and empowering teachers to make timely, informed decisions. No dashboards for dashboards' sake.
Collaboration over isolation
Perhaps the most exciting part of Victoria's new role is right there in the title: Collaboration.
With three campuses under the YCIS Shanghai umbrella, she sees an extraordinary opportunity — teachers connecting across sites, students benefiting from shared programmes and resources, and innovation becoming a collective practice rather than a solitary pursuit.
"I want every student across all three campuses to benefit from the very best of what YCIS has to offer, no matter which campus they walk into."
Victoria is no stranger to the conversations around AI and technology in education. Her take? Technology is only part of the story.
"The bigger opportunity is focusing on the human skills that no machine can replace — critical thinking, communication, resilience, and creativity."
For her, being future-ready isn't about predicting exactly what the world will look like in ten years. It's about giving students the confidence and adaptability to thrive, whatever comes next.
"To our parents and students — I'm truly excited to start this journey with you. I promise to keep every child's learning and wellbeing at the heart of what we do. I can't wait to listen, and to grow together at YCIS Shanghai!"
Ready to see it for yourself? Scan the QR code below to book a campus visit or speak with our admissions team — we'd love to welcome you and your child to YCIS Shanghai.
YCIS Shanghai — Nurturing globally-minded learners in China since 1993.
