Meet our Team
Our highly experienced, motivated and dedicated team of educators strive to provide each and every one of our students with the best possible high quality, well rounded education, preparing them to be successful in life. Our teachers are supported by a caring, enthusiastic and highly qualified team of support staff who work tirelessly and collaboratively to optimise the conditions and climate for learning for children across the school.

Mark Ford
PrincipalMark Ford brings with him over three decades of experience in education. He graduated in Mathematics from Nottingham, before completing his PGCE at York University. His career has seen him teaching in the UK, Kenya, France, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, at Abu Dhabi’s ADEK ‘Outstanding School’, The British School Al Khubairat, followed by a Principal position at Dubai’s ‘Outstanding’ Dubai British School until 2016. He then moved to Kuala Lumpur to head the prestigious, British Garden International School before joining The English College in August 2019.

David Wilcock
Head of Primary School FS 1 to Yr 6David Wilcock completed his BA (QTS) at Edge Hill University and his Masters of Educational Leadership at The University of Auckland in New Zealand. During his teaching career he held posts in Milton Keynes in the UK and leadership roles in both Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand. In 2017, David decided to use his extensive leadership experience in a different international setting by joining Dubai’s Emirates International School. He took the position as Head of Primary at The English College in 2019.

Emily Hopkinson
Head of Secondary School Yr 7-13Emily Hopkinson completed her BSc in Psychology at the University of Lincoln and gained QTS to become a Psychology teacher. After working as a teacher and a senior Psychology examiner for AQA for a number of years, she completed her MA in Educational Leadership and Management at the University of Warwick. Emily has also completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) through University College London’s Institute of Education. She performed a number of senior leadership roles - both in the UK and internationally - before joining The English College as Head of Senior School in 2020. Emily became the head of the Secondary School in 2021.

Daryl Sims
Head of LearningDaryl Sims studied for his degree in Industrial Economics at The University of Nottingham, before gaining his Masters in Leadership at the Institute of Education London. He joined The English College in 2011 as teacher of Economics and Business before beginning his current role. Previous to coming to Dubai, Daryl worked in East London, joining the teaching profession through the UK charity 'Teach First'.
Our Team

Mathew Budd
Deputy Head of Primary School
Sharon Percy
Head of FS & Y1 Teacher
Holly Fitzgibbon
Head of KS 1 & Year 2 Teacher
Emma West
Class Teacher, FS 1
Annabel Heath
Class Teacher, FS 1
Sophie Appleby
Year 2 Teacher
Anne Kurian
Class Teacher, FS 2
Anna Brophy
Class Teacher, Year 1
Eleanor Doherty
Year 1 Teacher
Rebecca Jupp
Year 1 Teacher
Ross De Goede
Year 2 Teacher
Fiona Whooley
Year 3 Teacher
Cath Yandle
Class Teacher Year 4
Lisa Hannon
Class Teacher, Year 4
Paige Stewart
Year 4 Teacher
Tunde Odumuyiwa
Year 5 Teacher
Elaine Bourke
Year 5 Teacher
Maxine McGregor
Year 5 Teacher
Kareem McKenzie
Year 6 Teacher
Victoria Philips
Year 6 Teacher
Andrew Stenhouse
Year 6 and KS2 Leader
Parisa Tonkaboni
Primary Art Teacher
Siobhan Kabbani
Primary Music Teacher
Anu Kaushik
Learning Support Assistant
Julie Newson
Learning Support Assistant
Mark Wallace
Learning Support Assistant
Helen Mercer
Learning Support Assistant
Rhoda Lugtu
Learning Support Assistant
Sanuja George
Learning Support Assistant
Kris Angel Lee Espaldon
Learning Support Assistant
Anahita Mulla
Learning Support Assistant
Fatma Saleh Al Ali
Learning Support Assistant
Mahschid Alborzfar
Learning Support Assistant
Lilianne R. Redondo
LEARNING SUPPORT ASSISTANT
Maria Raynolds
Learning Support Assistant
Madel Dano
Learning Support Assistant