In Conversation with Damian Ballantine - Head of Sixth Form

Join us in welcoming Damian Ballantine, Tanglin’s new Head of Sixth Form! We speak with him to learn more about his vision and priorities for supporting our Year 12 and 13 students

Tell us about yourself.

I am from Melbourne, Australia (my parents are Italian and Welsh), although I haven't lived in Australia for over 20 years. I recently returned to Singapore with my wife, Sophie, our 3-year-old daughter and our two dogs after three years working at an international boarding school in the Swiss Alps.

What attracted you to Tanglin?

Tanglin just has such a great global reputation and is known for its pursuit of excellence in both academics and pastoral care. It has a long and rich history, as evidenced by its recent Centenary celebrations. I first experienced its excellent environment and strong sense of community years ago, when I was still working in Vietnam, and attended a series of leadership courses hosted on campus. I remember walking onto the campus and thinking just being struck by how impressive everything was: the facilities, the students, the dedication of the staff, and the sense of energy.??During our six years in Singapore at UWCSEA, we also came to know how impressive a school Tanglin is and colleagues who joined us from Tanglin at Aiglon College last year absolutely raved about it!.

What are your first impressions of Tanglin and the community here?

Before arriving properly, it became clear that while the school is clearly committed to pursuing excellence, it’s also fantastic at celebrating successes and individual narrative. I really enjoyed the Centenary posts shared by staff, as well as personal narratives from the Class of 2025.?Since arriving, I have found the Tanglin community to be really welcoming and friendly. The staff are wonderful, extremely supportive and patient, and the students are just an absolute joy.

Last week, I was wandering through the Common Room during break introducing myself and chatting with students. Then over the weekend, I received a Teams message from one of them hoping that my first week had been enjoyable and that I wasn’t finding all the new stuff too overwhelming! I feel that is emblematic of the Tanglin Community.

Are there any educational philosophies or ideas you’re particularly passionate about?

I’m passionate about concept-based learning and making sure that students have access to different pathways, so they can find options that best suit them. Oracy is also important to me as I believe in empowering students to find their voice and learn to listen to others, especially in a world where technology and AI are increasingly embedded in everyday life and routines. I support a coaching approach to teaching and leadership, and I value self-directed learning for both students and teachers. Above all, I believe in utilising evidence-based practices, especially in relation to assessment, to keep the focus on learning and development instead of grades.

What are some of your proudest moments as an educator or school leader?

I think as an educator – and I am certainly no different – the proudest moments are always connected to really positive outcomes for students. I remember, when I was last in Singapore, negotiating the initial COVID restrictions and remote learning with an IB Literature and IB Language and Literature class. To witness how well they embraced the challenges and a new way of engaging with school and learning, was a really powerful moment for me. On a more individual level, one of my proudest achievements was leading a pilot programme for an alternative curriculum pathway to the IGCSEs during my time as Head of English here in Singapore. The freedom to explore the concepts, texts and tasks we felt were valuable – free from any limitations or requirements from an external exam board – was memorable and exciting. Alongside that, leading a department through a transition to Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction, and seeing the transformative impact that had on both teachers and students alike, was so rewarding.

August 2025