Science Faculty Leader - Ian Barfoot

Ian attended Spalding Grammar School in the UK where he studied GCSE and A-Levels, before progressing to Nottingham Trent University where he graduated with a 2:1 BSc (Hons) in 1997. From there he travelled extensively round Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australasia before embarking on a career in recruitment in London. Finally 'seeing the light' Ian applied for a place on the Graduate Teacher Training Programme, and secured a training placement at Wye Valley School to teach Science. He spent four years teaching there before deciding that rainy South Buckinghamshire was not the place for him, so moved to DBS where he began his career in international education in 2007.

Teacher of Science - Rhodri George

Rhodri completed a degree in Physics with Medical Physics at the University of Wales, Cardiff in July 2004. From Cardiff University he went straight into teacher training, also in Cardiff, where he completed his PGCE teaching qualification. Rhodri taught Physics and Applied Science for the previous 4 years in a comprehensive school in South Wales. Outside of school Rhodri is a keen self-taught guitarist who enjoys listening to and playing music, reading, keeping fit and has an interest in scuba diving.

Teacher of Science - Michelle George

In 2005, Michelle graduated from Cardiff University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry. She then went on to complete her Secondary PGCE and subsequently taught Chemistry in a comprehensive school in South Wales before moving to Dubai. Outside of school, Michelle enjoys keeping fit in the gym, the cinema, and music. Michelle is married to Rhodri who is a Science teacher too, they both took up their appointments at DBS in September 2009.

Teacher of Science - Timothy Gilliat

Tim had several management positions before recently making the decision to move into teaching. Graduating from The University of Hull with a BSc Chemistry (Hons), he went straight from there on to Durham University to complete his teaching training, working in some of the most challenging schools in Stockton-on-Tees. Upon returning to his home county of Lincolnshire, Tim took a post at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Horncastle, the area’s top school, before coming to DBS. Outside of academia he competed in Ballroom and Latin dancing for Durham University and enjoys all outdoor pursuits from Rock Climbing to Wild Camping having a ‘try everything once’ attitude.

Teacher of Science - Zoe Barford

Zoe arrived in Dubai from England in July 2007, and began working at DBS two months later. She has two children attending the school. She graduated with a Bachelor of Education (Hons) Degree from De Montford University, teaches Science and Maths and helps run the after school Hockey Club, having played County Hockey in England and run the London Marathon. Zoe previously taught Biology, Chemistry and Physics at Key Stages 3 and 4, and Advanced Biology at Key Stage 5, for ten years in Inner London.  She has held positions as both a Head of Year and a Key Stage Leader, and never tires from the satisfaction of enabling students to realise their potential in both academic and life skills.

Teacher of Science - Victoria Court

Victoria attended the University of Warwick, graduating in 2007 with a degree in Biological Sciences with Virology.  She then began her teaching career at Kingsbury School and Sports College, Birmingham on the TeachFirst Scheme as a generalist science teacher. Victoria spent two years here before moving to London to continue teaching within specialism at St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School. She is a keen dancer having performed at numerous locations within Europe and is looking forward to joining DBS in September 2011.

Teacher of Science - Najwa El-Yassir

Najwa was born in Beirut to Palestinian parents. She received her first degree at King's College London in 1985, and her PhD at University College London in 1989. She went on to become an Assistant Professor of Geology and Geological Engineering at the University of Waterloo in Canada for 5 years. She subsequently joined CSIRO - the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation - in Australia as a senior research scientist, specialising in petroleum geomechanics. In 2002, Najwa joined the Shell Research Centre in the Netherlands, where she went on to lead the Carbonate Research team, with a focus Middle East petroleum reservoirs. Throughout her career, Najwa has supported programmes which promote Science and Technology to young learners. When she moved to Dubai with her husband and two sons in 2009, Najwa made a decision to spend more time with her family. She took up a temporary Secondary Science teaching post a large Dubai secondary school in 2010 and her passion for teaching Science and Technology was rekindled, encouraging her to complete a PGCE qualification in 2010. Najwa has already taught Secondary Science at DBS and looks forward to joining the staff in September.