OUR PEOPLE

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

Principal

Mark 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 6

David 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 7-13

Emily 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 Learning

Daryl 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

Leah Lisgo

Class Teacher, Year 3