Our Team

Vice-president of the Polish Educational Society. EAL (English as an additional language) teacher at Ursuline High School, Wimbledon. Long-time head of the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Polish Saturday School in London. She has been associated with education in the Polish emigré community in London since 1981, initially as a teacher at a school in Balham in South London. She has had an association with the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Polish Saturday School since 1983, and for 23 years, from 1994 to 2017, she was head of school, closely cooperating with the Polish Educational Society. Founder of the London Festival of Polish Poetry “Wierszowisko”. Co-founder of the Nicolaus Copernicus Polish School in London. Member of the team of experts responsible for creating the Core Curriculum for Polish students studying abroad.

Co-founder of the Polish Diaspora Education Congress. Represented Polish diaspora education at numerous conferences and congresses in Poland and Great Britain. Participated as a judge for many competitions for students and teachers of Polish schools in the emigré community. Decorated with the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, the Medal of the National Education Commission, the Gold Badge of the Polish Educational Society and the “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” Cross awarded to lay people in recognition of work “for the Church and the Pope”.

Antonina has an MA in musicology from the Jagiellonian University and is a graduate of the Institute of International Trade in London. She has been living in the UK for 29 years. She has been on the board of the Polish Educational Society for 17 years, for 6 years serving as vice-chair of PES for administrative matters. Polish language teacher (A-level) at the Polish Saturday School in Milford, where she has also been the deputy head for 20 years.

For her educational charity work, she has been awarded the PES Gold Award, the Commission of National Education (KEN) Medal and the Gold Cross of Merit.

She currently works for a company in the City of London and utilises her corporate professional experience in her charity work at PES.

Halina Stochnioł MA, Polish Studies graduate. She has been a resident of London for 31 years. For 26 years she has taught Polish Language in a Saturday School at GCSE and A-level. Since 2002 she has worked for the AQA Examination Board, currently as Chief Examiner in the GCSE team. She is a long-term member and vice-chair of the Polish Educational Society. Since 1995 she has worked for the Polish University Abroad (PUNO) in the admin team, then as secretary of the University and currently as the secretary of the PUNO Senate. Her interests include literature and travel.

Creator and founder of the Adam Mickiewicz Cultural and Educational Association in Edinburgh and the Mały Instytut Języka Polskiego „Poloniusz” Polish school in Edinburgh. She is also a member of APPLA (Association for the Promotion of Polish Language Abroad). In Poloniusz, she is the director and manager and teaches Polish in early-years and senior classes. She is also the creator of POLONIADY, i.e. Olympiads of Knowledge about Poland for students of Polish community schools, the Independence Charity Ball for the Polish adult community in Scotland and the May Family Picnic. In Scotland, she works to promote the Polish language and culture, as well as to integrate the Polish community living there.

Privately, a wife and mother of three children. She loves cycling, baking and cooking. She believes that a good film or a good book is a great way of relaxing after a hard day. Above all, she values meetings with people, which is why her house is open to everyone with frequent guests.

A graduate in Polish studies and a translator. Resident in the UK for nearly 25 years; for 15 years associated with education in the Polish emigré community and for 10 years a member of the Polish Educational Society Board of Trustees. She liaises with several examination committees, publishing houses and organisations supporting higher education. A lover of theatre, opera and long walks.

Dorota graduated from Warsaw University with a degree in The History of Poland and is dedicated to the promotion of Polish History education. For over 20 years worked in one of our Polish Supplementary Schools in South West London as a History teacher focusing on preparing A-level students for their examinations. Currently supports children with language needs in a local primary school. Trustee from February 2021.

Trustee from February 2021, head of school in Hitchin, A-level teacher.

An experienced specialist in the organization and management of educational institutions, deeply committed to the development of Polish community education for many years. She has completed postgraduate studies in Education Management and Teaching Polish as a Foreign and Second Language and is currently pursuing her academic work as a PhD student at the Polish Academy of Social Sciences and Humanities in London.

Her professional career follows a dual path—she combines the world of finance with educational activities. A licensed accountant and a graduate of higher education institutions in both Poland and the United Kingdom, she has been serving as the Chief Financial Officer in her family business for over 15 years. At the same time, she has dedicated more than a decade to Polish community education, actively supporting the growth and operation of the Polish Saturday School in Liverpool. Within the school, she has held key roles—from parent representative, school board member, and GCSE class teacher to deputy headteacher and headteacher—currently serving as a School Council member and education specialist. Her work focuses on supporting Polish language learning among Polish community children and youth, as well as promoting Polish cultural heritage beyond the country’s borders.

A dedicated social activist, she passionately shares her knowledge and experience. She is a member of the International Polish Community Association in Italy and the Honorary Blood Donors Club of the Polish Red Cross at the Bełchatów Power Plant. As of February 2025, she has been a trustee of the Polish Educational Society.

Privately, she is a wife and mother of twins—Wiktoria and Wiktor. Her passion for travel has taught her organization, focus, and adaptability in new places and situations.

Daria Wilkinson is a Polish teacher with many years of experience. She is a pedagogue by education, having studied at the Gdańsk Higher School of Humanities.

Since 2011, she has been working in a Polish Saturday school as a teacher, and a few years later she decided to share her experiences in the “Closer to Polish Saturday School” blog. She supports other teachers in their work with passion and commitment (e.g. through training, workshops, live meetings, and coordinating parenting classes at school). She inspires, advises and shows that Saturday school classes do not have to be boring.

The work of a Polish community teacher is not only the transfer of knowledge and care for the development of students, but also the shaping of appropriate attitudes, the “infection” of others with a love for Poland, the building of constant curiosity about Polish culture, history and art – what they are and how they are changing.

She is the author of the e-book “The Polish Teacher’s Toolkit”, a series of calendars intended for planning lessons at a Polish community school. In 2022, she wrote the book “Educational lessons in a Polish community school – The untapped potential of learning together” (+ lesson plans). She believes that every Polish teacher is also an educator who has the skills and courage to signpost, inspire, help, and “be there” for their students.

Currently, she works at the Mikołaj Rej Polish Saturday School in Chiswick. She also edits the children’s magazine “Dziatwa”.

She devotes her free time to those she loves the most in the world, her children and husband, planning trips near and far. But her travel plans always include her beloved Kashubia, where she comes from.

I was born in Katowice. In Katowice, I completed my primary and secondary education, followed by two years of pedagogical study, majoring in early years teaching. After graduating with a master’s degree from the Academy of Physical Education in Warsaw (1967-1971), I worked as an assistant and teacher at the Department of Recreation and Dance at the same university. I travelled to the UK in 1973 to improve my skills in the English language. In 1975 I obtained the right to permanent residence.

From 1981 till 2020, I worked in the M. Konopnicka Polish Saturday School in Willesden Green, London. I started working with Year 1 pupils, all the way to Year 7, teaching Polish language, history and geography. After the first cohort moved up to the O-level class, I taught Polish language to new pupils in Years 4 to 7, and from 2007 older years. Working at the Polish School became my passion and to teach was an honour.

For my contribution to education I was honoured by the Ministry of National Education and Sport of the Republic of Poland with a medal of the National Education Commission, by the Mayor of Brent in London with the “Brent Community Championship Award”, by the Polish Educational Society with the Gold Badge and a Diploma for 25 years of work in Polish education abroad and by the Ministry of National Education with the Golden Cross of Merit.

I have been associated with Polish Educational Society for over 20 years. I am one of the Trustees and, among other activities, I am minute taker at meetings.

Privately, I am the wife of Salvatore of 47 years, mother of Monika and Dominik and grandmother of Natalia, Sofia and Aleks. I like travelling, sightseeing, a good book, socialising, and lots of sunshine.

A graduate of universities both in Poland and abroad. For 15 years associated with the M. Konopnicka Polish School in Willesden Green, teaching A Level Polish. She is also deputy head for the Senior Years. Assistant editor and co-author of the textbook “Polish Legends for A2. A textbook for children of the Polish diaspora and more.”. Since November 2020, she has been working for the Polish Educational Society as an Examination and Event Officer. Privately, mother of Matylda and Maksymilian.

Anita is a historian by education. For five years she has been teaching history at the Polish school in New Malden. She joined our admin team this year.

Edyta Mackenzie is a graduate of Polish Philology at the University of Łódź and a postgraduate in methodology and didactics in teaching foreign languages. She has been working at the Mikołaj Rej Polish Saturday School in London for many years, preparing students for A-level exams and coordinating work in exam classes. She is passionate about literature and her mission is to promote reading among children and teenagers from bi/multilingual and bi/multicultural families. She loves painting, photography and traveling with her family. At PES, her responsibilities include the newsletter, archives and graphics.