Feature Friday: Francis Roberts

Please state your full name and your position here at Marlborough College Malaysia (MCM).

My name is Francis Roberts and I am currently Prep Computer Science Beak and Deputy Housemaster of Munawir Hill (Senior Boys Boarding House)

Could you share a little about your background, family, hobbies, and anything else that’s important to you?

I grew up in Ireland, in an idyllic village near Kilkenny. I am married to Mrs Roberts (Head of Psychology in Senior School) and have three wonderful children. Charlie is in Year 8, Orla in Year 5 and Aoife in Year 1. I earned a Degree in Applied Computing and worked in IT for 4 years before setting off to travel Southeast Asia for two years. While travelling, I got the chance to do some teaching and immediately found a passion for the profession. I moved to England to attend university, met Mrs Roberts at my first school and spent the next 15 years living and teaching in Cheltenham in the Cotswolds. I love playing football, running and cycling when I can find the time. As an Irishman with a Dad from Manchester, I have supported Manchester United all my life. Watching them has always been a huge pastime of mine although it has not always been easy in the past few years. I was spoiled with success when I was growing up.

How long have you been at MCM?

We have been at MCM for three and a half years.

Why MCM and why Malaysia?

Post-Covid and with our family complete, Mrs Roberts and I decided we were ready for an adventure. I have friends who had worked in Malaysia and who spoke with great affection about their time here. Having both travelled Southeast Asia and loved it, Mrs Roberts and I decided this was a part of the world that felt was right to move our family to. The right jobs came up at MCM, and having researched the school we knew that it was going to be the right fit for us professionally and as a family. Our family is thriving living in Malaysia; we love the warmth of the people, the food, the opportunities to travel during our holidays and our children are flourishing in the Prep School.

Can you describe your experiences and achievements in your current/previous role?

Since joining MCM, I worked as Head of Year 5 for my first two years here. It is a job that I greatly enjoyed. Being involved in helping shape a child’s future is what makes teaching such a wonderful profession. Building on this, I decided that my future was working in boarding and I became Deputy Housemaster of Munawir Hill at the beginning of my third year. I have been lucky to be part of a great House team with an incredible bunch of young men.

Do you have any new or exciting initiatives or events that you’re looking forward to this academic year?

I have recently been appointed as Housemaster of Wills, starting next August. Over the coming months, I am looking forward to learning more about the boys who live there and how Wills House operates.

Is there a message you’d like to leave for the pupils, staff, or parents?

Strive to develop resilience and perseverance in your children. Life will always throw you challenges, and you need to be able to handle falling over and getting back up again. Learning to deal with the knocks that life hands you, learning from the knocks and bouncing back to persevere with your goals is a crucial life skill. Practising and modelling resilience is one of the greatest gifts you can give your children.