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ReWired Global Education Summit
FACILITIES
Complementing this approach to learning, the Arbor secondary school offers unique facilities designed for a transformational experience. Each learning space is inspired by nature, blended with cutting edge design and functionality. The result is a range of learning and recreational spaces which allows students to connect to their future. Embracing students’ creativity, the open and airy Market Space provides an area to reflect and study, socialise, present to colleagues, or display artefacts produced in the atelier, from design, fashion, textiles, and fine art to digital media. State of the art science laboratories, computing and sound sites have been carefully curated to help develop students’ STEM skills.
‘ix climate-controlled biodomes; three large geodesic domes that sit at the centre of the Arbor School Bio Park, two of which serve as a full tropical ecosystem available for Ecoliteracy education throughout the year, are among the school’s ‘living classrooms.’
The climate-controlled biodomes and learning gardens provide important spaces for children to learn more about their ecosystem and surroundings. As a result, the school can immerse its students in environments that they would not otherwise encounter in Dubai.
Even in a desert setting, the Arbor Biofarm demonstrates how a high-yield organic approach to cultivating fruits and vegetables can give a healthy, bountiful harvest.
The Farmhouse at the Arbor School creates a link between the well-being of students and the direct farm-to-table experience. Providing organic, low carbon footprint lunches and snacks, it provides its children with the highest quality food, created in a sustainable kitchen.
At the heart of the secondary school, the Wahah is a hub for networking, and homes facilities such as Arbor’s farm-to-fork organic concept canteen, theatre presentation area, sixth form common room, wellness platform, counselling spaces, and clinic, all representing the centre of the Arbor School community.
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Principal
Mr Brett Girven brings a critical eye for detail, an in-depth understanding of the Dubai and UAE educational climate, and a relentless drive to ensure a high-quality education is provided for every child.
He has developed a passion for the environment and completed a Bachelor’s degree in Science, majoring in Zoology. Mr Girven continued on to study Environmental Science at postgraduate level, and throughout his teaching career has always enjoyed the Ecology and Environmental Science side of teaching Science and Biology.
Mr Girven ensures that the future development of the school is carefully balanced to ensure the holistic growth of all learners, leading to academic excellence. He believes that it is important for the Principal to be visible, meeting and greeting children and parents as much as possible. He also believes that a smile is an important start to each day.
Head of Middle School
Ms Mandi Kirby is Head of Middle School, with nearly 30 years of teaching experience, including 15 years as a senior leader in the Middle East. She has a Bachelor of Education Honour’s degree from North Riding College in teaching the 3-13 age range with a specialism in Mathematics. Ms Kirby also gained Master’s degrees from The Open University and Warwick University in Education and Educational Research, with a focus on gender equality.
Head of Primary School
Mr Daniel Nichol gained a Master’s in Education and Educational Leadership from the University of Bath. His BA in Geography and Environmental Education will ensure he keeps the Arbor ethos and vision at the heart of his leadership. He believes passionately that each and every child has the potential to bring something unique and special to the world in which they live.
Head of Inclusion
Mrs Rachel Smith-Green has responsibility for establishing outstanding systems for the identification and education of Persons of Determination, gifted and talented students, and pupils with English as an additional language. She studied at Goldsmiths University in London where she gained an honours degree in Education and Art before embarking on her career in teaching.
Head of Psychology and Well-being
Ms Esra Uzsayilir is a UK trained Educational Psychologist who has been working in education for more than 15 years. Esra works holistically with children and families offering psychological assessment, consultation and therapeutic work; she has trained in Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy.
THE ARBOR SCHOOL’S CURRICULUM IS A NECESSARY RESPONSE TO CHANGES IN THE NATURE OF EDUCATION, SOCIETY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT
ARBOR SCHOOL
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BRIGHTON COLLEGE ABU DHABI CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Named amongst the top 100 private schools in the world by Spear’s Schools Index this year, and sister school to the ‘UK’s School of the Decade’ as named by the Sunday Times, Brighton College Abu Dhabi has achieved amazing success over the past 10 years and has cemented its name as a leading English National Curriculum school in the United Arab Emirates. From being rated outstanding by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) since 2018 to recently being awarded the Schools Compared Top Schools Award for Best School in the UAE for Theatre, Dance and the Performing Arts 2021-22, to achieving the Top Schools Award for Best School for Music in 2019, Brighton College Abu Dhabi continues to prepare its pupils with the skills and knowledge they need to achieve excellent GCSE and A-Level results, which ensures that the College’s alumni go on to study at leading universities around the world.
Head Mistress at Brighton College Abu Dhabi, Helen Wilkinson commented: “The future looks very bright for Brighton College Abu Dhabi as it continues to thrive and our results continue to be the best in the city, enabling our pupils to access some of the world’s best universities. As our pupils grow and transition through the next 10 years at the College, we want to give them a bigger role in helping us to shape the future of our learning environment so we can continue to be a space where pupils feel confident to try new things and to embrace challenges. We want our pupils to have a sense of social responsibility and to leave the world in a better place than when they found it.”
Looking to the future, she added: “I want to encourage our pupils to develop into tomorrow’s leaders and world shapers. I want them to go out into the world thinking about how they can help others whilst also succeeding in their own right. Our graduates will be future-ready, emotionally intelligent and consciously active global citizens. The College isn’t just a place to study, it’s a state of mind and we are all proud to be a part of it.”
Since 2011, the College has welcomed 4,691 bright young pupils through its doors and a fond look back over the 10 years discovers that 330 pupils have graduated from the College since the opening of its Sixth Form in 2014. This year, the College reported that 82% of its Sixth Formers who are studying in the UK are attending Russell Group universities such as the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, King’s College London, and the University of Warwick.
Pupils who have shone during their time studying at Brighton College Abu Dhabi include;
Hyochan Chowho was ranked first in Maths for the International Olympiad Foundation, the UAE’s largest Olympiad competition in 2020, and Maitha Al Hajaj, who was selected from 351,000 participants to take part in the Arab Reading Challenge and received an award for her involvement from Sheikha Jameela Al Muhairi, the Minister of State for Public Education. Sirine Messaikeh also scored the world’s highest mark in the Pearson Business GCSE in 2019, and Mohamed Al Menhali was announced as a member of the first Emirati Children’s Parliament in 2020.
Year 12 Pupil Georgina Keen, who has studied at Brighton College Abu Dhabi for 10 years, said: “I joined Brighton College Abu Dhabi on the first day it opened in September 2011 and over the past 10 years, I have been privileged to see the school grow and have many happy memories that I will look back on for years to come.”
Chief Executive Officer of Bloom Education, Nilay Ozral commented: “Reaching this historic milestone shows Brighton College Abu Dhabi’s consistent excellence in all that it does and will continue to do for its pupils. Bloom Education’s goal for the past decade has been to nurture our pupils in an opportunity-rich environment so they can reach their highest potential and Brighton College Abu Dhabi is a stellar example of our vision coming to life.”
Head Master of Brighton College UK, Richard Cairns commented: “We are extremely proud of our sister school Brighton College Abu Dhabi on its 10th anniversary. The achievements of this outstanding school are testament to the excellence of the teaching staff, within a community where curiosity, confidence and kindness are championed. Brighton College Abu Dhabi and Brighton College UK work closely together for the good of all our pupils and we are delighted to have such a strong relationship. We wish the school many more years of success.”
