ASIBA
Association des Sections Internationales Britanniques et Anglophones
Lycée International, British Section
2 bis rue du Fer à Cheval
78101 Saint Germain-en-Laye
Contact:
contact@asiba.fr
ASIBA Academic Steering Group

James Cathcart — President
St. Germain
James has taught History-Geography in the British Section of the Lycée International Saint Germain-en-Laye since 2002 and was appointed Director in 2010 and President of ASIBA in 2012. James has made a leading contribution to the development of the BFI qualification and works in close collaboration with the Education Nationale and Cambridge International Education on partnership issues, examination organisation and recognition. James is a graduate of Oxford University, where he studied Modern History, and holds the National Professional Qualification for Headship.

Nicholas Baker — National Subject Coordinator English Language & Literature
St Germain
Nicholas Baker is Subject Leader for Language and Literature in the British Option of the OIB. He is Deputy Director and Head of English in the British Section of the Lycée International of St Germain-en-Laye.
Born in London, and brought up in London and the midlands, Nicholas studied at the Birmingham School of Music before reading English at London University. After working in the book trade for a number of years, as well as composing and performing music, Nicholas took a PGCE and joined the staff of University College School, London. He and his French wife moved to France in 1991, firstly to the Lycée International at Ferney-Voltaire and then, two years later, to the Lycée International at St Germain-en-Laye.
Drawn from the start to the originality of the OIB in its commitment to the humanist tradition of English Literature, Nicholas became involved in the development of Language and Literature as a subject within the OIB. He represented the OIB schools in drafting official programmes for Language and Literature in the collège and lycée cycles, working with representatives of the Inspection Générale, the Programmes Department in the French Ministry of Education, and the Cambridge Inspector for Language and Literature; these programmes are published on the website of the French Ministry of Education.
As well as his commitment to English as a subject in the OIB, Nicholas has a strong interest in university entrance and the recognition of the OIB.
.

Alan Geary – National Subject Coordinator History-Geography
Lyon
Alan Geary has been teaching history and geography in the Anglophone Section of the Cité Scolaire Internationale in Lyon since 2011. Before this he taught history and geography for nine years in the Anglophone Section of the Lycée Franco-Allemand in Buc, near Versailles.
Born and raised in Edinburgh, Alan moved to Glasgow in order to read history and French at Strathclyde University in 1994. After this, he settled in Paris to undertake a postgraduate course in history at the Sorbonne (Paris IV) in 1998. After successfully completing his degree he then passed the CAPES followed by the Agrégation, competitive exams to become a teacher in the French public sector.
In September 2017, Alan officially took over from Robert Miller as the National Subject Leader for History and Geography for France and overseas. This leads him to work closely with Cambridge International Examinations and with the French Inspection in ensuring the close partnership and smooth running of the OIB.
ASIBA Board

James Cathcart — President
St. Germain
James has taught History-Geography in the British Section of the Lycée International Saint Germain-en-Laye since 2002 and was appointed Director in 2010 and President of ASIBA in 2012. James has made a leading contribution to the development of the BFI qualification and works in close collaboration with the Education Nationale and Cambridge International Education on partnership issues, examination organisation and recognition. James is a graduate of Oxford University, where he studied Modern History, and holds the National Professional Qualification for Headship.
Rob Miller — Vice-President
Lyon
Rob Miller has been working in the OIB community since 1994. First as a History/Geography teacher and examiner, then as National History/Geography co-ordinator and now since 2011 as the Head of the Anglophone Section at the CSI of Lyon. At Lyon, he follows in the footsteps of Donna Philip who was also an ASIBA founder and former President.
Although born in Billericay (someone has to be), he grew up in the North and graduated from Hull University with a degree in Geography and Geology. Searching for adventure and an alternative life style, he then spent thirteen years on a small island in the Finnish archipelago. There he worked as a lumberjack through the long winters, then fished and tended his vegetables and sheep during the short summers. Returning to the UK, he became a teacher through a graduate teacher scheme and worked for three years in a school in Essex before leaving for France.
In addition to his main role as teacher and now manager, Rob has developed a series of extra-curricular activities and services at the CSI. These include the International Award, Model United Nations and University Guidance. He believes strongly in the educational value of the OIB and has happily followed the progress of his students around the world. In addition, he greatly values the professionalism, friendship and support of the OIB community (ASIBA, Inspectors, Teachers, Parents) which he believes has been vital for the continued success of the qualification.

Elisabeth Lau-Vanchet — Secretary
Sèvres
Elisabeth Lau-Vanchet has been teaching in the OIB community since 2000 and is currently Head of English and University Advising in the Anglophone Section of the Sections Internationales de Sèvres. In this role, she teaches Language & Literature at the IGCSE and OIB levels and oversees the SIS post-bac orientation programme supporting students’ ambitions to study at universities in the UK, EU and North America.
Betty studied Literature and Art History at the University of Toronto, where she also earned an MA and her teaching qualifications (BEd). She taught in the American Section of the Lycée International de St.Germain-en-Laye and was for many years on the ELSA FRANCE planning committee for the annual TDD (Teacher Development Day) in Paris.
Having joined the ASIBA board in 2012, Betty helps organise the annual Schools Forum. In recent years, she has also contributed to the activities of the University Entrance Group, supporting colleagues in university advising roles and working towards greater recognition of the OIB with university admissions in the UK and increasingly across the EU.

Shaun Corrigan — Treasurer
Fontainebleau
A graduate of London, Granada and Aix-en-Provence, Shaun completed his post-graduate studies at Lancaster before entering the teaching profession in 1994. In addition to leading departments in a variety of British schools, he has been highly involved in examining and teacher-training, working with universities in England and across Europe. Over the years, he has enjoyed collaborating in numerous projects between the British and French education systems.
Prior to his arrival in France, Shaun spent eight years as Head of a large department in an academic grammar school in the north of England. Appointed Director of the Anglophone Section of the Lycée François Ier in Fontainebleau in 2010, he has been instrumental in establishing the school as the second (British) OIB oral examining centre in the Paris region.

Laura Martin-Clark — Board Member
Ferney-Voltaire
Laura grew up in the Scottish Highlands and studied English Literature and French at Glasgow University. She lived in Paris before completing Teacher Training at the Institue of Education in London. After almost 20 years teaching in state schools in London, Laura moved with her family to Ferney-Voltaire in 2017 where she now leads the English National Programme, one of France’s biggest and longest established anglophone sections.

Nicholas Baker — Board member
St Germain
Nicholas Baker is Subject Leader for Language and Literature in the British Option of the OIB. He is Deputy Director and Head of English in the British Section of the Lycée International of St Germain-en-Laye.
Born in London, and brought up in London and the midlands, Nicholas studied at the Birmingham School of Music before reading English at London University. After working in the book trade for a number of years, as well as composing and performing music, Nicholas took a PGCE and joined the staff of University College School, London. He and his French wife moved to France in 1991, firstly to the Lycée International at Ferney-Voltaire and then, two years later, to the Lycée International at St Germain-en-Laye.
Drawn from the start to the originality of the OIB in its commitment to the humanist tradition of English Literature, Nicholas became involved in the development of Language and Literature as a subject within the OIB. He represented the OIB schools in drafting official programmes for Language and Literature in the collège and lycée cycles, working with representatives of the Inspection Générale, the Programmes Department in the French Ministry of Education, and the Cambridge Inspector for Language and Literature; these programmes are published on the website of the French Ministry of Education.
As well as his commitment to English as a subject in the OIB, Nicholas has a strong interest in university entrance and the recognition of the OIB.

Katharine Axten — Board member
Paris
Katharine has a child in the Anglophone section at Honoré de Balzac (Paris) and represents the interests of Balzac parents and OIB parents in general. She came to France 20 years ago to work as a Technical Writer and has more recently created and implemented training programs for businesses.

Alan Geary – Board Member
Lyon
Alan Geary has been teaching history and geography in the Anglophone Section of the Cité Scolaire Internationale in Lyon since 2011. Before this he taught history and geography for nine years in the Anglophone Section of the Lycée Franco-Allemand in Buc, near Versailles.
Born and raised in Edinburgh, Alan moved to Glasgow in order to read history and French at Strathclyde University in 1994. After this, he settled in Paris to undertake a postgraduate course in history at the Sorbonne (Paris IV) in 1998. After successfully completing his degree he then passed the CAPES followed by the Agrégation, competitive exams to become a teacher in the French public sector.
In September 2017, Alan officially took over from Robert Miller as the National Subject Leader for History and Geography for France and overseas. This leads him to work closely with Cambridge International Examinations and with the French Inspection in ensuring the close partnership and smooth running of the OIB.

Xavier Vuiller – Board Member
Colomiers
Born and raised in the French Alps Xavier studied an English and American Literature and History joint degree before moving to Aberdeenshire where he worked as a Foreign Language Assistant while completing his MA.
Back in France for a year to complete a FLE qualification he then went back to the UK and completed his PGCE at Cardiff University, starting his teaching career in the Welsh valleys in 1999 as a modern foreign Languages teacher before moving to the East Midlands to become curriculum leader, literacy coordinator, PGCSE mentor and then be promoted to join Nottinghamshire’s highest performing state school’s leadership team. After nearly 20 years in education in the UK, Xavier returned to France to become Director of the International programme at the Lycée International Victor Hugo in the Toulouse area where he also teaches English Literature.
Xavier was invited to join the ASIBA board in 2020. He is hoping to make a positive contribution in ensuring ASIBA a bright future and follow in the footsteps of the various very talented and inspired stakeholders who created it and have skilfully transformed it over time into the great institution that it is today.