People of Nobel Algarve: Scott Pryde

Scott Pryde is the Deputy Head of School and Head of Secondary at Nobel Algarve British International School, Almancil. He is married to Sophie, who is our Primary Music teacher, and has two children, Noah who is 6 and Finley who is 7. Scott graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 2010 with a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and, as a lifelong learner, also achieved his National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) in 2022. Scott worked at two reputable international schools in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between 2011 and 2022 before relocating to Portugal. He was our Head of International Section at our Lagoa campus for one year before taking on his current role at our new Almancil campus in 2023. Scott has a passion for marrying pastoral care with academic excellence and providing enriching learning opportunities and environments for all young people and the adults who support them.

 

Where did you grow up, and what was it like there?

I grew up in a small town called Cupar in Fife. We are 12 miles inland from St Andrews. My family home was in a park keepers lodge so we were surrounded by football pitches, tennis courts, cricket fields and botanical gardens so I spent a large amount of my childhood outdoors.

 

What’s a tradition your family had while growing up that you still cherish?

Supporting our two favourite football teams, Heart of Midlothian and Newcastle United. I try to watch games with my family whenever we are together.

 

What’s your all-time favourite book, movie, or TV show?

Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne. It helped to inspire my love of geography, travel and history.

 

What’s a favourite memory from your childhood?

Playing hide and seek in the park with all the children from our neighbourhood. We used to have 20-30 kids hiding around the gardens. It took hours!

 

How did you become interested in working in education?

My father managed a leisure centre, so I was always surrounded by coaches in various sports and children of different ages growing up. From the age of 14, I was a lifeguard and sports coach, so I was working with little children from an early age and seeing excellent role models working with young people as I was growing up.

 

Tell us about your greatest achievement

My wife and two children, Finley and Noah, are my greatest achievement. Sophie and I met in Malaysia and the boys were both born there. We survived COVID restrictions in a country far away from our close family and made the brave move to Portugal to start this new adventure.

 

What is your steepest learning curve?

Changing schools after 12 very successful years in Kuala Lumpur and having to adapt to the processes and setting of a new school in Portugal.

 

How do you remain curious?

Travelling keeps me curious, but I would also say my children also do this. They never stop asking questions and wanting to know more about the world they live in. 

 

What motivates you to keep going during challenging times?

My family and my belief that the only way to keep moving is forward.

 

Who is someone in your life who has had a significant influence on who you are today?

There have been a few but I think my father has impacted my leadership style and the way that I treat people in and outside of school.

 

What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?

‘You can’t pour from an empty cup’. Look after yourself and you will be able to better look after those around you.

 

Nobel Algarve is a great place because...

The people at the grassroots. The students, teachers and support staff who turn up each day and do their very best to provide valuable learning experiences for one another.

 

What would you like the community of Nobel to know about you?

I am passionate about the success of every member of our community and I will always do what I can to try and support you in being the best you can be. 

 

What’s something you hope to accomplish in the next five years?

I would like to complete a Half Ironman and then a Full Ironman triathlon. I am due to complete the Half in September 2025!