New Primary Staff in 2014/15

New Primary Staff in 2014/15 The process of recruiting high quality staff to join our exceptional team of practitioners is one of the most important aspects of the role of school leader. It is a process which began way back in December 2013 and continues throughout the school year. After months of interviews and UK visits, during which we took potential candidates through the rigorous interview process, the following team of staff has been successfully appointed to join our talented Primary team and we look very much look forward to their input and the expertise as they work with us to drive our standards forward even further.

The process of recruiting high quality staff to join our exceptional team of practitioners is one of the most important aspects of the role of school leader. It is a process which began way back in December 2013 and continues throughout the school year. After months of interviews and UK visits, during which we took potential candidates through the rigorous interview process, the following team of staff has been successfully appointed to join our talented Primary team and we look very much look forward to their input and the expertise as they work with us to drive our standards forward even further.

Joining our primary team is Mrs. Angela Barnes. Since graduating from St Martin’s College, Angela Barnes has had significant experience at St Mary’s Primary School, Cumbria where OFSTED acknowledge outstanding teaching within the school has raised children’s standards. Mrs. Barnes is joined in Abu Dhabi with her husband and two young children.

Mrs. Canis Kamran joins us from Prince Albert Primary School in Birmingham where has taught for the past five years, teaching across both KS1 and KS2. Canis is a Year group leader in her current school and member of their leadership team.

Miss Dawn Harries joins us from our Nord Anglia Education School in Budapest, Hungary. Prior to joining the team Dawn was a member of my team in Shanghai and I am delighted to have her join our school here in Abu Dhabi. Miss Harries is an exceptionally experienced early years practitioner who originally graduated from Nottingham Trent University.

Ms Fran Doran is currently a Year 6 teacher at Outwood Primary School in Stockport. A very experienced Key Stage 2 teacher Ms Doran also has a passion for global citizenship and education for sustainable development – key skills which will support our school in its drive for improved sustainability. Ms Doran moves to Abu Dhabi with her husband an IT specialist and a whizz in the use of iPads to transform learning.

Miss Frances Clarke is currently Upper Key Stage 2 Phase Leader in Bedonwell Junior School in Kent. Miss Clarke is also a talented linguist with a specialism in French which has afforded her the opportunity to live and teach in France earlier on in her career.

Miss Katy O’Mahony is currently teaching at St Winifred’s Junior School in London, where she also holds the role of English Subject Leader. Miss O’Mahony has previously lived overseas and taught in Serbia. She brings to our teaching team a love of art and music and is a member of her local choir.

Mrs. Lisa Templeton is an exceptionally experienced Early Years Practitioner. Her experiences in early years are wide and varied and key achievements include a role as an early years inspector. Lisa Templeton has worked in both the independent and state sectors and she also is a keen coach of gymnastics. Joining her in Abu Dhabi are her husband and three children. Lisa’s two daughters join our secondary school.

Miss Nadia Mekhid is joining us with experience across both EYFS and Key Stage 1 from Pound Hill Infant School an “outstanding “ school in West Sussex. Nadia has responsibility for EYFS planning, assessment and budget as well as being a KS1 leader. She is a keen guitarist and a basketball player.

Born in Bahrain and spending her early childhood in Saudi Arabia, Miss Natasha Crawley joins us from Barley Fields Primary School in Teeside. Natasha has experience across a wide range of primary year groups and she is also a talented sportswoman. Having spent most of her teenage years as a semi-professional swimmer she will most certainly be a great asset to our team. Miss Crawley currently coordinates PE in her school and will be actively involved in our ECA programme. Her most recent sporting pursuit is Archery , where she is qualified to teach children this skill and runs an after school club for young and budding archers.

Miss Natasha Dowe is currently Year Group Leader of five Key Stage One classes at Starbank Primary School in Birmingham. It is an outstanding school due to the exceptional progress students make as a result of consistently high quality teaching. Natasha has a passion for supporting transition from EYFS to Year 1 , she also really enjoys running the weekly cooking club with children in her current school.

Miss Toni Reddon joins us from Qatar International School, Doha, and brings to our team extensive experience in a range of year groups and most recently KS2. Toni also holds the post of cross curricular leader which has enabled highly effective cross curricular plans across year groups which have had a significant impact on pupils learning.

Last, but by no means, least Mrs. Rebecca Robson will also join our primary team. Mrs. Robson recently relocated to Abu Dhabi with her husband and young family. She began her teaching career in one of the largest primary schools in Gloucestershire and was recognised for her outstanding teaching , which even included a visit from Nick Clegg, the UK’s Deputy Prime Minister who came to observe how she delivered a story telling approach to improve children’s writing. Rebecca also has significant leadership experience in EYFS and KS1 and has previously been an Assistant Head.

I know you will want join me in wishing our new teachers a very warm welcome to our school community. They will be keen to meet with you during the Orientation days which take place on the mornings of 27^th and 28^th August. Look out for more words from them on our website at the end of August.

I’d also like to let you know more about improvements to our Primary Leadership structure. Once again we offer many congratulations to Mrs Rima Ahmed who begins her new role of Primary Deputy Head at the beginning of the next academic year. Rima will work very closely with our Head of Primary, Michelle Hayes to improve the quality of teaching and learning across the school. They will work together closely with Mrs Lesley Watson as Assistant Head with a focus upon attainment and progress in Key Stage One and Mr Patrick O’Neill as Assistant Head with a focus upon attainment and progress in Key Stage Two. This team provides incredibly strong Primary Leadership and we certainly look forward to continued success and still further improvement upon outcomes for pupils in the Primary school.

The Primary Leadership Team will also be well supported by a superb team of Year Group Leaders: From 31^st August , Miss Nicola Exley will become the EYFS2 Year Group Leader and Mrs Kelly Ann Downs will temporarily support the team of practitioners in EYFS1. Mrs Tamara Keenan will take on the role of Year One Leader with Miss Natalie Boon as Year Two lead. Mrs Helen Hughes moves into Key Stage next year as the Year Three Leader and Mrs Angela Raftery remains as the lead for Year Four. Mr Martin Rawstron becomes the leader of Year Five and Miss Samantha Squire will lead the team in Year Six. Congratulations to all those who have recently achieved the key role of Year Group Leader and, once again, they will be in touch with more information for parents at the very start of the new academic year.

In the meantime we wish you a very relaxing, happy and safe summer vacation break.