Meet The Team

It is with great pride that I welcome you to Yasmina British Academy as the Head of Primary.

Having joined the Academy on the Executive Leadership Team in September 2019, taking the school through to Outstanding status, it is with great pleasure to lead the ever-growing thriving primary section on its journey through further development and excellence.

Having begun my teaching and leadership career in London, UK, I relocated to the UAE six years ago with a wealth of senior leadership experience, steering schools through periods of change and significant development. Sitting on the Executive Leadership Team in Dubai has brought a wealth of experience in the local setting, including strategic development, inspections, accreditations and devising practical solutions to the complex educational challenges faced in International schools.

As a former International Triathlete competing for Great Britain on the World stage, my philosophy of education is for students to be all-rounded, learning values and skills through exposure to a variety of high performing experiences. These align to the school vision and values of developing the arts of Sport, Music and Drama, building vital life skills such as resilience, collaboration, leadership and a strive for excellence; in turn stimulating motivated learners to succeed in a wide range of academic, personal and social situations.

As technology advances the educational world, it is an inspiring time for the development of teaching and learning, and I look forward to working very closely with the incredible Yasmina British Academy community to take the school through its next stage of educational excellence.

My journey to teaching started in the North East of England, where I completed a degree in Primary Education. The first school I worked in, situated in a small English town named Hartlepool, gave me many excellent opportunities to work with children across the different Key Stages of the primary school.

In 2014 I decided to combine my love of teaching and travel and make a move to the U.A.E. My first five years in this country were spent in a large international school in Dubai. During my time in Dubai, I had the privilege of teaching children from all around the world and getting to know all about their different cultures and ways of life. I also became the Subject lead for English, and later the Director of Key Stage 1.

In 2019 I became the Assistant Principal for Primary at Yasmina British Academy. This was a move that I was very keen to make knowing that Yasmina British Academy is a school with an excellent reputation and incredibly high standards. I have thoroughly enjoyed leading on all pastoral aspects of the primary students’ education. I firmly believe that in order to be successful educators, we must develop the whole child, focusing on their emotional needs alongside the academics.

One of my key priorities is to provide all children with classroom experiences where they feel secure and confident enough to try out new things and make mistakes, as this is a critical aspect of the learning process. All children should feel a sense of belonging and pride in their school, which is always a top priority in everything we do here at Yasmina British Academy.

After completing my Geography degree at the University of Derby in 1996, I decided I wanted to combine my love of the world with working with children so in 1998 I embarked on a new journey and trained to be a teacher at the University of Leeds; 21 years later I am still driven by the same underlying factor – I want to make a difference.

After ten very successful years in the UK, I moved to the UAE in 2009, joining Yasmina British Academy as a middle leader in 2011.

In 2015 I joined the senior leadership team, and I am now very privileged to hold the position of Head of Secondary. I have an excellent track record of raising standards and have been an integral part of the Academy’s journey over the last ten years, achieving BSME Outstanding, Investors in People Gold, BSO Outstanding and most recently ADEK Outstanding.

Over the years, having held various leadership positions, I truly understand the importance of developing the whole child. For me, education is the key to success, and this success is enveloped by a growth mindset where learning is at the heart of everything we do. With this philosophy in mind, there is no ceiling to learning, no limit to success and no cap to achievement; learning truly is an exciting journey of discovery for all.

I am delighted to share my educational journey and my role as Assistant Principal at Yasmina British Academy. My passion for education started with the completion of my teaching degree at Sheffield Hallam University. This was just the beginning of a fulfilling career that has allowed me to work in various Primary Schools in Lincolnshire, England.

In 2016, I embraced my first leadership position in an Outstanding school, where I took the reins of the English and Assessment departments. I also had the privilege of serving as a member of the Governing Body, contributing to the school's continued success.

In 2018, my family and I embarked on an international adventure, as we moved to join the Senior Leadership Team of a prominent British International School in Spain. This experience broadened my horizons and allowed me to bring a global perspective to my educational leadership.

In 2020, I became a part of the Yasmina British Academy family, initially as the Director of Phase, where I played a pivotal role in establishing the new Early Years Campus. This endeavour further deepened my commitment to fostering a nurturing and exceptional learning environment.

Now, in 2023, I am honoured to take on the role of Assistant Principal at Yasmina British Academy. This position fills me with immense pride, as I have dedicated many years to the field of education. It's clear to see that Yasmina is a very special place where exceptional children, a talented and dedicated staff, and a supportive parent community come together to create an outstanding school where children thrive and achieve greatness in all aspects of their lives.

I look forward to continuing this journey, and I am deeply committed to our mission of providing exceptional education and support to the children at Yasmina British Academy. Together, we will continue to shape young minds and inspire academic excellence.

What better place to be than at the heart of shaping young lives?

Starting my love of teaching in the outback of Australia, my career spans over 20 years both in the UK and within Abu Dhabi. I have taught across all the Primary year groups with passion, and have held many roles which enable me to lead in teaching and to nurture both students and teachers in their pursuit of excellence.

This passion for teaching brought me to Yasmina British Academy with my own family ten years ago where both my son and daughter thrive, enjoying all the academic and extra-curricular opportunities that it offers.

At Yasmina British Academy, I have been privileged to be a Head of Year, Head of Key Stage, and Director of Phase in both Lower and Upper Primary. I have led on English as Additional Language across the school, and across the network of the Aldar schools.

Achieving is about more than academics. Our role as educators starts with each child and their well-being. Developing resilient learners, learners with a growth mindset and happy learners means we will develop young minds which are capable of achieving the best outcomes possible.

This is where I want to be – at the heart of providing this in our arena of learning at Yasmina British Academy.

I have always had a passion for learning and cannot remember ever wanting to be anything other than a teacher. I followed my passion and obtained my B.Ed degree in South Africa. When I had finished studying, I travelled to the U.K, to utilize my skills as an educator and make a difference to the minds and lives of children.

I worked in an inner-city school in London and found the experience very rewarding. I moved from being a class teacher to Head of Key Stage 1. Thereafter, I was offered the opportunity to be the Lead Practitioner for multiple schools within an Academy Trust in Surrey.

In 2017, I looked to further share my passion for teaching and learning on a new adventure, as well as to enjoy the sunshine and culture. I decided to move to the UAE with my family. I was fortunate to begin working at Yasmina British Academy, with its outstanding education and reputation. I have progressed from Head of Year (during which time the school achieved Outstanding in BSO), to Director of Upper Primary and am now the Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Pastoral.

I believe, we as educators, are responsible in preparing our children to be citizens of the future. Here at Yasmina British Academy, we strive to equip our students with all the skills to become resilient, confident, and ambitious leaders of the 21st century that endeavour to make a real and positive contribution to society.

I obtained a BA in History and Politics from the University of Leicester and went on to secure a PGCE in 2007. As a committed lifelong learner, I went on to complete a Masters in Learning and Teaching and gained the well respected NPQSL (National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership). My career in education started in Leicester and over the past 15 years I have been fortunate to have shaped the academic and personal success of students from a variety of backgrounds, in the UK and in the UAE. 

I joined Yasmina British Academy in 2016 and have held various responsibilities alongside teaching History and Politics. It is an honour and a privilege to be entrusted with leading a team of dynamic and experienced teachers in order to provide the best possible outcomes for the young people in our care. A key priority as a school leader is to ensure world-class quality of teaching and learning which stimulates students’ intellectual curiosity, engages them in learning and enables excellent attainment and progress. My aim is to ensure every child is enabled, encouraged and supported, and that teachers are continuously engaging with the latest educational research and developing pedagogically. 

I arrived in the UAE with my daughter, who completed her A-Levels at Yasmina British Academy and is now at university in the UK. We were welcomed by an overwhelming sense of community and support; I want nothing more than to continue to embed this tradition of ensuring every single member of our community is embraced and respected within the YBA family. My commitment is to ensure the love, care and relentless commitment to excellence for every child continues to guide our school into the future. 

I am an educator because I believe seeking knowledge is a duty and I want to share my passion for learning so that our future generations will go on to shape a better world. My interest in learning was fuelled by the many books I read as a young person and my travels around the world, my experience as a parent, and my career in education and leadership; all of which have made me increasingly passionate about wanting to understand the world and make a positive contribution to society.

I am delighted to introduce myself as a new addition to SLT at Yasmina. Having achieved my BSc (Hons) Degree in Sport, Health & Physical Education at the University of Wales, Bangor, I went on to complete my PGCE in Secondary Physical Education at Liverpool John Moores University. I am now joining the team from the UK after fifteen years teaching in Manchester as a Secondary Physical Education specialist. 

I am an experienced senior leader, having held a variety of roles within pastoral and curriculum operations & logistics over the last seven years. During this time I have completed the National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership, exploring the positive impact of extra-curricular activity engagement on student academic outcomes. I am a strong believer in the impact of engagement in the wider-school community and extra-curricular program on developing the whole person, and I am committed to supporting all students to be the best version of themselves.

Each young person has the potential to be happy, healthy and successful in life, and I strive each day to ensure I can support young people to demonstrate a positive attitude to learning and maintain a strong work ethic so they may aspire to achieve their very best. 

This is a great new challenge for me and I am extremely excited to be joining the team to drive the curriculum offer and secure outstanding achievement for all students at Yasmina - I look forward to contributing to the future success of the school.

With over ten years of leadership experience in Outstanding Schools in Abu Dhabi, I am an accomplished Operations & Support Services Manager (OSM) who prioritises excellence. My unwavering focus on safety and well-being encompasses a commitment to creating exceptional learning environments that prioritise quality education. The amazing team at Yasmina, who share my commitment to excellence, have played a pivotal role in my success.

As a Master's degree holder in Strategy and Project Management and a current doctoral candidate with a focus on Operations, I implement the philosophy of Kaizen and agile methodology to drive continuous improvement and excellence.

As a trusted member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), I play a critical role in creating the environment necessary for an Outstanding School. I leverage my extensive experience in managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders efficiently exceeding expectations. Streamlining operations, improving processes, and implementing effective systems are key strengths I possess that support the organisation's success.

Growing up with parents who are educators in the UAE has instilled a passion for education and a commitment to providing the highest level of service.

In summary, I am committed to driving excellence within the organisation while providing exceptional service. My extensive experience, advanced education, focus on health and safety, and agile methodology make me confident in my ability to optimise our facilities and support the organisation's success.