Education

GEMS Education is looking ahead to welcoming a new Principal and CEO to GEMS World Academy Dubai, Dr Saima Rana.

Dr Rana joins GEMS Education with big ride in global education, having committed her career to enhancing the academic requirements of inner-city schools. Dr Rana has a robust background in school improvement, combining traditional school development methods with a dedication to collaboration between the local neighborhood and businesses in order to speed up regeneration.

Taking office in September 2020, Dr Rana is an awesome leader who is deeply dedicated to strategic and non-stop improvement. She will bring to GEMS her broad experience of school leadership; in her work as Principal of Westminster Academy in London, an Ofsted Outstanding IB school, she has overseen a transformation of scholar outcomes, and has established creative systems to enforce and provide an ambitious programme of improvement. Dr Rana has additionally labored as a senior academic consultant for Cambridge Education Islington, and as a leading schools development consultant for Building Schools for the Future, with a focus on; teaching and learning, raising standards, ICT, evaluation for learning, curriculum and change management.

As Dr Rana transitions to her new appointment at GEMS World Academy Dubai, she will be working with workforce and parents to examine more about the challenges dealing with the school and its roadmap for improvement, following which she will communicate her vision and approach to staff, students and parents. Dr Rana is driven by her trust that education have to be actually outstanding for all, and it is this belief that will allow our kids to attain the best possible outcomes.

Dino Varkey, CEO of GEMS Education, said: Dr Saima Rana is an excellent educator to lead GEMS World Academy Dubai. It is an interesting time for the school as we commence a new chapter further constructing on our dedication to provide constantly excessive educational standards. Dr Ranas passion, experience, and dedication to teaching makes her the ideal candidate for the role. Her knowledge and expertise will give a boost to our GEMS Education management crew as we proceed to construct upon the development of education in the country.

Dr Saima Rana said: It is a privilege to be given the chance to lead GEMS World Academy Dubai. I am so excited to meet students, teachers, parents, carers, stakeholders and the community, and to be entrusted with the chance to work intently with them to take the Academy into its next segment of improvement making sure that all students advantage from its world-class academic and extra-curricular provision.

I am committed to fulfilling the very best aspirations of each and every child, constantly with the GEMS core values and IB philosophy at the heart of my approach. I look ahead to leading GEMS World Academy so that it turns into the best IB school in the world, underpinned by a dedication to fairness, creating Jewels of Kindness and respect, so that all our students feel safe, secure and successful.

Dr Rana specialises in Secondary School Educational Policy, ICT, Globalisation, and, the Knowledge and Digital Economy. She was an ICT Mark Assessor and examiner for NAACE and was part of the working party developing the unique Becta/Ofsted ICT Mark and Assessment for Learning Reform group.

With a PhD in Education from UCL Institute of Education, Dr Rana is passionate about sharing best exercise for continuing expert improvement and has presented several academic papers on policy, ICT, globalisation and secondary education at the Institute of Education and the Knowledge Lab in London, Trinity College in Dublin, and global conferences in Europe, USA and China.

In addition, Dr Rana is a member of the following boards: International Baccalaureate Schools and Colleges Association (IBSCA), The Duke of York Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award (iDEA), Paddington Development Trust (PDT), Mosaic Community Trust (MCT), University College School (UCS), the Institute for Ethical AI in Education (IEAIED) and the BCS School Curriculum and Assessment Committee. She is also Founder and Trustee of numerous charitable schools and other programs for women and girls throughout the Globe.

Our present CEO and Head of School, Stuart Walker will depart at the end of this academic year to take up a new possibility outside the UAE. Over the years, Stuart has led GEMS World Academy Dubai with great integrity and care for all members of the school community. Under his management the school has gone from strength to strength and executed great milestones that will proceed to have a long-lasting impact on students for years to come.

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