Interview Niki Meehan, Head of School, Rome International School

Rome International School has a new Head of School this year: Niki Meehan, a Scottish-born educator with more than two decades of international leadership experience in Jakarta, Shanghai, Bratislava and, most recently, Prague. We spoke with her about balancing the IB and Italian state curricula, RIS's Forest School program on its Monte Mario campus, and how the school is approaching AI in the classroom. You're originally from Scotland but have spent most of your career leading schools abroad, in Jakarta, Shanghai, Bratislava, and most recently Prague. What drew you to Rome International School? I've been fortunate to spend more than twenty years leading exceptional international schools across Asia and Europe, and every school has taught me something different about leadership and learning. What attracted me to RIS was the opportunity to join a school with strong foundations, an outstanding community and enormous potential for the future. What really stood out was the combination of academic ambition, exceptional teachers, a beautiful 3.5-hectare green campus in Monte Mario that also gives students room to explore and learn outdoors. Combine that with the opportunity to be inspired by one of the world's most inspiring cities - where history, art, and innovation are right outside our gates - and the global reach of the Globeducate family, made it feel like a very special place. For me, leadership is about continual renewal. Schools should never stand still - we build on what works well while always asking how we can make learning even better for every child. You hold a Bachelor of Education from Edinburgh and an MSc in Educational Leadership from Leicester. How has that academic grounding shaped your approach to running a school? One of my strongest beliefs is that learning never stops. My qualifications gave me a solid foundation, but I've learned just as much from working alongside exceptional educators around the world. Every school, every colleague and every child teaches you something new. That's why professional learning is so important at RIS. We expect our students to embrace challenge and curiosity, so our teachers- and I include myself in that - must do exactly the same. The challenge-and-support culture we want for our students applies equally to adults. You've led schools across four very different countries before Rome. What have those varied postings taught you about what actually makes a school community work, regardless of where it is? Different countries have different cultures, but great schools share the same foundations. Living and working across different cultures taught me one universal truth: whether you are in Jakarta, Prague, or Rome, parents want the exact same thing. They want a school where their child is truly seen, supported, and inspired to reach their potential. A school community works when it strikes two balances: creating a safe, welcoming 'home base' for families navigating international transitions, while maintaining a love of learning and high expectations for what students can achieve. When children feel secure and known, they thrive educationally - and that is where true breakthroughs happen. I've also learned that the best leaders spend less time behind desks and more time with people. I like being in classrooms, talking to students, listening to parents and supporting teachers because that's where you really understand your school and community. Your bio talks about wanting every child to 'thrive today while being fully prepared for the future.' In practice, how do you balance those two things when they sometimes pull in different directions? Children only get one childhood, so school should be both joyful and ambitious. Academic excellence matters enormously, but so do curiosity, creativity, resilience and confidence. We want children to enjoy learning, ask thoughtful questions, solve problems and become increasingly independent learners. The future belongs to people who can think critically, adapt and continue learning throughout their lives. Our role is to develop those qualities from Nursery right through to the IB Diploma Programme. RIS offers both the International Baccalaureate and the Italian state curriculum. How does the school balance the two, and why does that combination matter for students living in Italy? It's genuinely the best of both worlds. Students learn through English every day, becoming truly fluent while also benefiting from a strong Italian curriculum, the opportunity to complete the Italian State examinations and graduate with a bilingual diploma. Families don't have to choose between an international education and maintaining their Italian identity - they can have both. Our students leave with global perspectives while remaining firmly connected to their own culture and language. RIS sits on a 3-hectare campus inside the Monte Mario Natural Reserve. How is the school using that setting for what you call Forest School? Our 3-hectare campus nestled in the Monte Mario Natural Reserve is an active laboratory. In Forest School, our youngest learners step outside every day in all-weather to explore biodiversity and the surrounding ecosystem. They are constructing shelters, navigating natural obstacles, and learning risk assessment firsthand. This hands-on inquiry fosters creativity, builds resilience and confidence faster than any indoor lesson can. As students grow, that philosophy expands. Whether it's practical fieldwork on our grounds or studying ancient history or urban planning directly in the Centro Storico, we treat our campus - and the city of Rome - as an extension of the classroom. What does building a genuinely inclusive and supportive environment look like day to day at RIS, for staff as well as students? We often talk about ensuring every child is known, challenged and supported. It means pastoral care is woven into the fabric of daily school life. For students, inclusion also means emotional safety; it's about understanding every learner as an individual and helping them achieve their personal best. It's about active mentor relationships, proactive wellbeing check-ins, and using our amazing woodland surroundings to give children space to recharge and reset. When a child feels known, secure, and valued for who they are, academic confidence follows naturally. For our staff, wellbeing is just as intentional. A truly inclusive school looks after the emotional health of its entire community. As part of the Globeducate network, how does an IB education at RIS prepare students for universities and careers beyond Italy? The IB is much more than an academic qualification. It develops young people who are reflective, resilient, internationally minded and ready to contribute positively to society. Through Creativity, Activity and Service, students develop leadership, empathy and a sense of responsibility alongside academic excellence. Being part of Globeducate enriches this even further. Our students collaborate with peers across the world through sports, music, debating, Model United Nations, environmental projects and student leadership events, building friendships and perspectives that last a lifetime. AI is changing fast, and every school is grappling with what that means for teaching and learning. How is RIS thinking about AI and the future of education? AI is already changing the world our students will enter, so schools have a responsibility to prepare them. Our approach isn't simply about using AI; it's about understanding it. Students need the knowledge, critical thinking and ethical judgement to use technology responsibly rather than becoming dependent on it. Technology should enhance learning—not replace curiosity, creativity or independent thinking. That's why we work closely with both students and parents to navigate this rapidly evolving area together. Parents moving to Rome often arrive anxious about uprooting their children mid-education. What role do you want parents to play in the school community here, beyond just enrolling their kids? Moving countries is a huge life change, and we understand that because so many of our families have experienced it themselves. We work hard to ensure every family feels welcomed from day one, and our students are wonderfully inclusive in helping new classmates settle quickly. Parents are partners in education, not spectators. Through our Friends of RIS Parent Partnership model there are many ways to get involved, whether that's supporting events, sharing expertise or simply being part of the daily life of the school. Strong home-school partnerships are at the heart of great education. You talk about wanting students to 'love coming to school.' What does that actually look like in practice, and how do you know when it's working? It starts with children feeling safe, happy and valued. When students enjoy coming to school they ask questions, take risks, make mistakes, build friendships and become increasingly independent learners. As Head of School,I spend a great deal of time in classrooms and being visible around school because that's where you see the real culture of a school. Watching children fully engaged in learning is the best measure of success. You work with a lot of highly mobile international families relocating to Rome. Having lived across Asia and Europe yourself, what advice do you give families going through that transition? Embrace the opportunity. International education gives children remarkable opportunities to develop resilience, adaptability and confidence while building friendships with people from all over the world. My advice is always to become involved quickly. Join the community, encourage your children to try new activities and trust the process. Children are often far more adaptable than we imagine. Outside of school, how do you spend your time in Rome? Rome is an extraordinary place to live. My husband and I enjoy exploring different neighbourhoods, walking in the parks, discovering local restaurants and making the most of the city's incredible history and culture. Professionally, I also see Rome through the eyes of an educator. Every museum, archaeological site and piazza is another opportunity to inspire learning. Looking ahead, what does success look like for Rome International School under your leadership, five years from now? Educational excellence is our baseline and I want RIS to be recognised among Italy's top international schools. But true success lies beyond the classroom, it is much more than examination results. I want RIS to be celebrated as a school that leverages our unique environment in the green heart of Rome, where our dual international and Italian pathways nurture the talents and interests of every individual. A place where teachers excel, parents are active, and students graduate as confident, compassionate leaders ready to make a positive impact on society. Academic results matter and developing young people ready to shape the future is our true measure of success.

Wanted in Rome Wanted in Rome · Wire Report · 2 hours ago · 9 min read

Interview Niki Meehan, Head of School, Rome International School

Image via wire syndication · Wanted in Rome

WIRE — Rome International School has a new Head of School this year: Niki Meehan, a Scottish-born educator with more than two decades of international leadership experience in Jakarta, Shanghai, Bratislava and, most recently, Prague. We spoke with her about balancing the IB and Italian state curricula, RIS's Forest School program on its Monte Mario campus, and how the school is approaching AI in the classroom. You're originally from Scotland but have spent most of your career leading schools abroad, in Jakarta, Shanghai, Bratislava, and most recently Prague. What drew you to Rome International School? I've been fortunate to spend more than twenty years leading exceptional international schools across Asia and Europe, and every school has taught me something different about leadership and learning. What attracted me to RIS was the opportunity to join a school with strong foundations, an outstanding community and enormous potential for the future. What really stood out was the combination of academic ambition, exceptional teachers, a beautiful 3.5-hectare green campus in Monte Mario that also gives students room to explore and learn outdoors. Combine that with the opportunity to be inspired by one of the world's most inspiring cities - where history, art, and innovation are right outside our gates - and the global reach of the Globeducate family, made it feel like a very special place. For me, leadership is about continual renewal. Schools should never stand still - we build on what works well while always asking how we can make learning even better for every child. You hold a Bachelor of Education from Edinburgh and an MSc in Educational Leadership from Leicester. How has that academic grounding shaped your approach to running a school? One of my strongest beliefs is that learning never stops. My qualifications gave me a solid foundation, but I've learned just as much from working alongside exceptional educators around the world. Every school, every colleague and every child teaches you something new. That's why professional learning is so important at RIS. We expect our students to embrace challenge and curiosity, so our teachers- and I include myself in that - must do exactly the same. The challenge-and-support culture we want for our students applies equally to adults. You've led schools across four very different countries before Rome. What have those varied postings taught you about what actually makes a school community work, regardless of where it is? Different countries have different cultures, but great schools share the same foundations. Living and working across different cultures taught me one universal truth: whether you are in Jakarta, Prague, or Rome, parents want the exact same thing. They want a school where their child is truly seen, supported, and inspired to reach their potential. A school community works when it strikes two balances: creating a safe, welcoming 'home base' for families navigating international transitions, while maintaining a love of learning and high expectations for what students can achieve. When children feel secure and known, they thrive educationally - and that is where true breakthroughs happen. I've also learned that the best leaders spend less time behind desks and more time with people. I like being in classrooms, talking to students, listening to parents and supporting teachers because that's where you really understand your school and community. Your bio talks about wanting every child to 'thrive today while being fully prepared for the future.' In practice, how do you balance those two things when they sometimes pull in different directions? Children only get one childhood, so school should be both joyful and ambitious. Academic excellence matters enormously, but so do curiosity, creativity, resilience and confidence. We want children to enjoy learning, ask thoughtful questions, solve problems and become increasingly independent learners. The future belongs to people who can think critically, adapt and continue learning throughout their lives. Our role is to develop those qualities from Nursery right through to the IB Diploma Programme. RIS offers both the International Baccalaureate and the Italian state curriculum. How does the school balance the two, and why does that combination matter for students living in Italy? It's genuinely the best of both worlds. Students learn through English every day, becoming truly fluent while also benefiting from a strong Italian curriculum, the opportunity to complete the Italian State examinations and graduate with a bilingual diploma. Families don't have to choose between an international education and maintaining their Italian identity - they can have both. Our students leave with global perspectives while remaining firmly connected to their own culture and language. RIS sits on a 3-hectare campus inside the Monte Mario Natural Reserve. How is the school using that setting for what you call Forest School? Our 3-hectare campus nestled in the Monte Mario Natural Reserve is an active laboratory. In Forest School, our youngest learners step outside every day in all-weather to explore biodiversity and the surrounding ecosystem. They are constructing shelters, navigating natural obstacles, and learning risk assessment firsthand. This hands-on inquiry fosters creativity, builds resilience and confidence faster than any indoor lesson can. As students grow, that philosophy expands. Whether it's practical fieldwork on our grounds or studying ancient history or urban planning directly in the Centro Storico, we treat our campus - and the city of Rome - as an extension of the classroom. What does building a genuinely inclusive and supportive environment look like day to day at RIS, for staff as well as students? We often talk about ensuring every child is known, challenged and supported. It means pastoral care is woven into the fabric of daily school life. For students, inclusion also means emotional safety; it's about understanding every learner as an individual and helping them achieve their personal best. It's about active mentor relationships, proactive wellbeing check-ins, and using our amazing woodland surroundings to give children space to recharge and reset. When a child feels known, secure, and valued for who they are, academic confidence follows naturally. For our staff, wellbeing is just as intentional. A truly inclusive school looks after the emotional health of its entire community. As part of the Globeducate network, how does an IB education at RIS prepare students for universities and careers beyond Italy? The IB is much more than an academic qualification. It develops young people who are reflective, resilient, internationally minded and ready to contribute positively to society. Through Creativity, Activity and Service, students develop leadership, empathy and a sense of responsibility alongside academic excellence. Being part of Globeducate enriches this even further. Our students collaborate with peers across the world through sports, music, debating, Model United Nations, environmental projects and student leadership events, building friendships and perspectives that last a lifetime. AI is changing fast, and every school is grappling with what that means for teaching and learning. How is RIS thinking about AI and the future of education? AI is already changing the world our students will enter, so schools have a responsibility to prepare them. Our approach isn't simply about using AI; it's about understanding it. Students need the knowledge, critical thinking and ethical judgement to use technology responsibly rather than becoming dependent on it. Technology should enhance learning—not replace curiosity, creativity or independent thinking. That's why we work closely with both students and parents to navigate this rapidly evolving area together. Parents moving to Rome often arrive anxious about uprooting their children mid-education. What role do you want parents to play in the school community here, beyond just enrolling their kids? Moving countries is a huge life change, and we understand that because so many of our families have experienced it themselves. We work hard to ensure every family feels welcomed from day one, and our students are wonderfully inclusive in helping new classmates settle quickly. Parents are partners in education, not spectators. Through our Friends of RIS Parent Partnership model there are many ways to get involved, whether that's supporting events, sharing expertise or simply being part of the daily life of the school. Strong home-school partnerships are at the heart of great education. You talk about wanting students to 'love coming to school.' What does that actually look like in practice, and how do you know when it's working? It starts with children feeling safe, happy and valued. When students enjoy coming to school they ask questions, take risks, make mistakes, build friendships and become increasingly independent learners. As Head of School,I spend a great deal of time in classrooms and being visible around school because that's where you see the real culture of a school. Watching children fully engaged in learning is the best measure of success. You work with a lot of highly mobile international families relocating to Rome. Having lived across Asia and Europe yourself, what advice do you give families going through that transition? Embrace the opportunity. International education gives children remarkable opportunities to develop resilience, adaptability and confidence while building friendships with people from all over the world. My advice is always to become involved quickly. Join the community, encourage your children to try new activities and trust the process. Children are often far more adaptable than we imagine. Outside of school, how do you spend your time in Rome? Rome is an extraordinary place to live. My husband and I enjoy exploring different neighbourhoods, walking in the parks, discovering local restaurants and making the most of the city's incredible history and culture. Professionally, I also see Rome through the eyes of an educator. Every museum, archaeological site and piazza is another opportunity to inspire learning. Looking ahead, what does success look like for Rome International School under your leadership, five years from now? Educational excellence is our baseline and I want RIS to be recognised among Italy's top international schools. But true success lies beyond the classroom, it is much more than examination results. I want RIS to be celebrated as a school that leverages our unique environment in the green heart of Rome, where our dual international and Italian pathways nurture the talents and interests of every individual. A place where teachers excel, parents are active, and students graduate as confident, compassionate leaders ready to make a positive impact on society. Academic results matter and developing young people ready to shape the future is our true measure of success.

"We aggregate wires to encourage regional discovery, sending readers directly back to the original source to explore full coverage."

This is a normalized overview of the breaking feed event. The complete, official release detailing all points, background context, and statements remains hosted by the original publisher.

Read full story at Wanted in Rome