At Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong, teaching is more than instruction — it is the art of inspiring purpose. Our teachers are not only subject specialists but mentors who nurture curiosity and independence. Their classrooms are places where pupils are encouraged to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and connect knowledge to the world around them.
In the Senior School Humanities department, this philosophy comes vividly to life. Across Geography, History, and Business, Economics & Entrepreneurship, our teachers believe that education is most powerful when it invites students to think critically, explore creatively, and apply ideas with integrity.
The teachers who lead these subjects — Ms. Faye Cook, Ms. Amy King, and Ms. Trisha Daswani — each bring their own approach to teaching, yet all share the same goal: to cultivate minds that are thoughtful, curious, and ready to make a difference.
Geography with Ms. Faye Cook
“My own geography teacher at school was truly outstanding, and I can still remember some of our individual lessons and homework tasks even now. He really brought the subject to life for me and made me fall in love with geography — and I wanted to spend my life doing the same.”
For Ms. Faye Cook, Head of Humanities and Geography, teaching began with inspiration. Her own experience as a student shaped her belief that great teaching can ignite curiosity for a lifetime. She hopes to pass that same spark on to her pupils, showing them that Geography is not just about landscapes and maps, but about the stories of people, environments, and change.
“I’d describe my teaching style as ‘hard fun’ — I want students to enjoy what we’re doing, but to always be pushing themselves.”
Her classroom embodies this balance between challenge and enjoyment. Lessons are lively and rigorous, inviting students to think critically while engaging with real-world issues. Whether analysing data, investigating human-environment interactions, or exploring global challenges, pupils are encouraged to dig deeper and reflect on what they learn.
“Hard work always pays off!”
This simple but powerful message lies at the heart of Ms. Cook’s approach. She believes that perseverance builds confidence, and that meaningful learning comes from effort as much as enthusiasm.
That philosophy extends beyond the classroom. As a board member of the Royal Geographical Society (Hong Kong), Ms. Cook connects students with inspiring speakers and experiences that bring Geography to life. Through talks from explorers such as Adrian Hayes, James Riley, and Gijs Depootere, pupils have heard stories of challenge, resilience, and discovery — lessons that encourage them to think deeply about the values of courage, perseverance, and perspective.
Beyond lectures, Ms. Cook leads hands-on experiences such as her Geography Photography ECA, encouraging pupils to explore the natural world through creativity and observation. She is currently preparing for a Geography trip to Iceland, where students will study glacial landscapes firsthand.
For Ms. Cook, Geography education is about more than knowledge. Through her guidance, WASHK pupils learn that Geography is not just about studying the planet but understanding how we shape it — and how it shapes us.
History with Ms. Amy King
“A pure and utter love of the subject ever since I can remember.”
For Ms. Amy King, Head of History, the decision to teach was rooted in a lifelong fascination with stories of the past. She sees History as a subject that helps students understand people, decisions, and the world we live in today. That sense of wonder and connection has shaped her approach to every lesson.
“History is the best subject for students to get creating (propaganda), debating (individuals and events), judging (controversies) and unpicking fake news (source analysis).”
Ms. King’s classroom is a place of energy, debate, and imagination. Her lessons invite pupils to step into history itself — exploring events through re-creation, analysis, and discussion. Whether designing propaganda posters, unpicking bias in sources, or debating the motivations of historical figures, students are challenged to think like historians, weighing evidence and questioning perspective.
“History is not dead Kings, learning dates and writing endless essays.”
She aims to transform the way students see the subject, showing that History is a living discipline that reveals how past decisions continue to shape society. As she reminds her pupils, “the repercussions of the events we study are happening every day in the world and their own society.”
These ideas extend beyond the classroom through opportunities such as the prestigious History Bee and Bowl competition, which Ms. King runs. She encourages students to test their knowledge and analytical skills in a spirited academic competition. She hopes to form a WASHK team to compete in the Asian Championships, and nurture curiosity, confidence, and scholarly excellence.
Through her teaching, Ms. King inspires pupils to see History not as a record of the past and limited to memorising facts, but as a guide to understanding the present and how it shapes today’s politics, culture, and identities. By examining how choices made long ago still influence the present, pupils develop both analytical reasoning and a thoughtful awareness of the world around them.
Business, Economics & Entrepreneurship with Ms. Trisha Daswani
“I was inspired to become a teacher by a deep-seated desire to make a positive difference in students’ lives. I am passionate about making teaching relatable and showing students how to apply economic principles to their own lives and the world around them.”
For Ms. Trisha Daswani, Head of Business, Economics & Entrepreneurship, teaching is about empowerment. She wants every pupil to see how the decisions made in business and economics affect people, communities, and the wider world — and to recognise that they, too, can be part of that change.
“My teaching style is highly interactive, centred around fostering lively discussions and utilising a wide range of case studies and real-life examples.”
Her classroom reflects this dynamic, inquiry-driven approach. Lessons are filled with dialogue and analysis, where students debate solutions to real challenges and explore how innovation and ethics intersect in the modern world. Ms. Daswani brings abstract concepts to life by connecting them with the practical, helping students bridge what they learn in theory with what they see in business and society.
“I want my students to carry with them a new perspective: the ability to see the world through the insightful lens of business and economics, equipping them to navigate complex challenges as the next generation of innovators and leaders.”
This vision underpins everything she does, from her lessons to WASHK’s Entrepreneurship initiatives, where pupils develop and pitch their own ventures. Under her guidance, students move through the full lifecycle of business creation — from concept and design to strategy and delivery — learning first-hand that resilience and adaptability are key to success.
To deepen their understanding, Ms. Daswani also invites industry guest speakers to share their professional experiences. Entrepreneurs like Anita Vogel, founder of Lionheart Farms, have offered valuable insights into sustainable business practices and purpose-led leadership. These sessions give students a tangible sense of how vision and values can coexist in the world of enterprise.
Ms. Daswani hopes her students leave her lessons seeing the world through new eyes — equipped with the ability to analyse, question, and understand the decisions that shape our global society. More than that, she wants them to feel empowered to use that understanding to become thoughtful, capable leaders in whatever path they choose.
Humanities at WASHK — Where Knowledge Inspires Action
Across the Humanities, WASHK teachers share a commitment to connecting learning with life. Pupils are not simply learning about the world, they are preparing to engage with it. Through the passion and guidance of Ms. Cook, Ms. King, and Ms. Daswani, they are encouraged to think critically, communicate clearly, and approach complex questions with both intellect and empathy.
Whether analysing data in Geography, debating moral dilemmas in History, or pitching sustainable business ideas, our students are developing the skills and mindset to make meaningful contributions to the world.
This approach not only enriches their academic journey but also lays the foundation for future success — equipping pupils with the analytical, creative, and interpersonal skills that top universities and employers value most. By learning to think independently and articulate ideas with clarity, our students stand out as confident, well-rounded individuals ready to excel in higher education and in their careers.
At Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong, the Humanities do more than teach knowledge — they shape character, nurturing young minds ready to explore, question, and create their own path in the world.
