Primary Leadership Team

An inspiring leader, committed to ensuring outstanding holistic educational provision, Georgia is excited to be joining Dubai British School - Emirates Hills in August. After graduating from Liverpool Hope University College in 1999 with a Bachelor of Education degree and Honours in English Literature, Georgia began her teaching career in a large diverse school in Newham, East London. With a passion for Literacy and expressive and performing arts, it was here where she gained her first leadership role as Head of English and Drama. While working in Newham, Georgia also developed a keen interest in inclusive education, working with the local education authority and other external consultancies in developing provision for gifted and talented children. Georgia also became a mentor during this time supporting students and newly qualified teachers, sparking a life-long and genuine interest in empowering and developing others. In 2002, Georgia moved to Dubai where she spent the first 14 years teaching at two outstanding British curriculum primary schools, contributing significantly to their strategic and innovative development through an extensive range of teaching and leadership roles including English Leader, Gifted and Talented Leader, Advanced Skills Teacher and Phase Leader for Upper Key Stage 2. During this time, Georgia also successfully completed her ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management) Level 3 Coaching Award from the British School of Coaching.

Having loved my own time at school, I knew from an early age that I wanted to teach children and provide them with the love for education that I am so lucky to have. Having graduated from the University of Greenwich in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in Primary Education Studies, specialising in English and Special Educational Needs, I taught and led on a range of curriculum areas in schools in Kent, as well as becoming Assistant Head Teacher before making the exciting decision to move to Dubai . Since moving to Dubai in 2013, I have taught in two other outstanding British International schools where I have taken the lead on outstanding curriculum provision. I am passionate about providing children with learning experiences that whilst providing them with the necessary skills, knowledge and understandings they need in order to advance in their respective learning journeys, will ignite a passion for lifelong learning and that they will remember fondly when they reflect on their school days in years to come. I am so excited to be joining the DBS community about which I have heard so many great things. My visits to the school, have shown me what a wonderful, welcoming place it is and I am enjoying getting to know the children and staff and looking forward to meeting and working with you as parents. I have loved following recent events such as the Platinum Jubilee Performances and rehearsals for the Year 6 production and I cannot wait to be involved in them all ‘for real’. When I’m not in school, I love to travel and immerse myself in new cultures. I love to read and this year I plan to reignite my love of learning languages by taking German lessons.

I am Irish but have now lived more of my life overseas than in Ireland. Having changed careers and retrained to become a teacher, I can confidently say that teaching is my true vocation. As a long-term expat, I have had the benefit of experiencing education, as a teacher and as a parent, in several countries, giving me valuable insight into what is effective and what is important to children and their development. I joined the Foundation Stage department at DBS as a teacher in 2012. Over the years, I have taught in both FS1 and FS2 and I have watched proudly as an already Outstanding department continued to develop and evolve, into an exemplary model of how to provide the best early years education for children. I hope you get the opportunity to visit us and see the rich, vibrant and happy space that we have created. I became the Head of Foundation at DBS in 2019 and I strive to ensure the practice of constantly reviewing, learning and growing in our department, to give the best environment in which to teach and learn. When I am not at work, I enjoy playing tennis, cooking (and eating) and travelling to new places or to visit my grown-up children. Best Moment In Teaching My best moments in teaching are the little things that happen every day and are too numerous to mention! However, if I have to pick two that bring me joy they would be: 1) the children who learn to share, speak confidently, read, write and count but tell their parents that they don’t do work at school, they just play! and 2) the emails that I receive every year from parents, whose children clung nervously to their legs in September, telling me that their children now ask why they can’t go to school at the weekend!

Originally, I am from Peterhead in ‘Bonnie’ Scotland, and I moved to Dubai in 2010 after finishing my Primary Education degree at Dundee University - hoping for a break from the cold, Scottish rain. I spent my first few years in Dubai working at a local school, which I loved as I got to learn lots about the rich Emirati culture. In 2013 I made the move to Dubai British School Emirates Hills, and I have worked in Foundation Stage, Key Stage One and I am currently teaching in Key Stage Two. DBSEH really is one of a kind, I have worked here for such a long period as I absolutely love the warm community feel. Throughout my time at DBSEH I have taken on lots of additional responsibilities and currently work as Assistant Headteacher with a focus on Wellbeing and Positive Education. I am very passionate about wellbeing as I believe a happy child is a learning child and love researching different ways to support our students. Currently, I am also Lower Primary Phase Leader and Primary Head of House. These two roles have allowed me to build wider school relationships and enables me to celebrate the successes of lots of different children. Meeting with the Primary House Captains to organise new events is always a highlight of my week. Dubai is a wonderful place to live and I love waking up to the sunshine every morning. At the weekends, you will usually find me at the pool with my kindle – I love sharing my book recommendations with friends. I am also a keen spinning enthusiast as it’s a great way to burn off some steam after a busy day at school. Best Moment In Teaching My favourite part of the school day is first thing in the morning seeing all those smiling faces excited to get into school to learn!

After graduating in 2002 with a Bachelor of Education, specialising in English and Special Educational Needs, I commenced my teaching career in a small inner-city primary school before making the move back to Northern Ireland to further my teaching profession. I had the pleasure of managing and actively working in a learning support centre for children with Specific Speech and Language disorders and Autism, an area that I am passionate about. Working in this capacity fulfilled one of my life-long ambitions and provided me with opportunities to work within multidisciplinary teams within my local education authority. I made the move to Dubai in 2012 with my two children and husband and during this time I have completed my Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) qualification, Certificate in Psychometric Testing, Assessment and Access Arrangements (CPT3A) and continue to advance my career in Senior Leadership studies. I was delighted to an instrumental component of the Inclusion Department when we were awarded the MENA SEN department 2017. I have also had the pleasure in hosting training workshops with established training providers, which has allowed me to share my knowledge with other professionals. Best Moment In Teaching In the capacity that I work there is nothing that brings me greater pleasure than seeing my students achieve goals that they thought were impossible. Those light bulb moments are priceless and each time they are achieved. I get the greatest sense of accomplishment and a reminder of why I love the job that I do.