The shortlist for the Education Excellence Awards has now been confirmed by the event’s panel of judges. The awards celebrate teachers and support staff in schools across Dubai, with a focus on individual achievements, rather than categories focused on the establishments themselves. The winners in 17 awards categories are set to be announced at the Grosvenor House Dubai on World Teachers Day on Thursday 5th October.
Nominations for the awards were open since May for all schools registered with the KHDA to enter. More than 100 submissions were received from 34 schools, teaching foundation stage to year 13 education in Dubai. The high level of detailed nominations and supporting testimonials for teachers, staff and leadership teams is a testament to the calibre of the education sector in the city.
“It has been fantastic to see the quality of teaching staff and their work happening in schools across Dubai through the strength of applications reviewed for the 2023 Education Excellence Awards.” said one of this year’s judges, Nalini Cook, Head of Global Research of ISC Research. “Families and teaching staff in Dubai benefit from a huge variety of quality schools and will hopefully find it as inspiring as I have to learn more about the impactful work being carried out by some very passionate and skilled educators in all kinds of roles, schools and with all kinds of resourcing and to be able to recognise such important contributions.” Cook continued.
Speaking on the quality of entries for the awards, fellow judge Debra Forsyth, CEO of British Schools in the Middle East said “It has been an absolute pleasure and a privilege to read the submissions for the Education Excellence Awards and to appreciate the outstanding quality and great variety of work being undertaken in UAE schools. Differentiating between entries of such high calibre will certainly be a challenge for the judges.”
Joining Cook and Forsyth on the independent judging panel for the inaugural Education Excellence Awards are Fiona McKenzie, Head of Education, Carfax Education and Liesa Grace Wilson, Editorial Director of Teach Middle East & schoolfinder.ae. Fiona McKenzie commenting on the standard of education in Dubai demonstrated by the submissions said “There were innovative teachers introducing new ways of teaching, or programmes to extend the vision of their pupils, creating engaging and memorable learning experiences for the children. I think that this reflects on the high calibre of the people involved in education in the UAE who support and encourage children to achieve their very best in the many schools in the UAE.”
Winners will be announced at a gala dinner for 200 teachers and education executives at the Grosvenor House Dubai on Thursday 5th October – World Teacher’s Day. Early booking rates are available until Monday 4th September.
Education Excellence Awards 2023 shortlists for all categories:
SEN Programme/Department of the Year
| Jebel Ali School |
| GEMS Founders School Dubai |
| Wesgreen International School |
| Ambassador International Academy |
| Dubai British School Jumeirah Park |
| GEMS Wellington International School |
STEAM Programme/Department of the Year
| GEMS Legacy School |
| Ambassador International Academy |
| Delhi Private School Dubai |
Drama/Arts Programme of the Year
| Dubai British School Jumeirah Park |
| GEMS Dubai American Academy |
Arabic Teacher of the Year
| Mahbouba Hassan, The Aquila School |
| Maha Al Halawani, American Academy for Girls |
| Yasmin Ikhwan, Deira International School |
| Abdulrahman Shaiba, Dubai British School Jumeirah Park |
| Christina Nasser, Dubai Schools Al Barsha |
| Shams Al Ghali, Uptown International School |
English Teacher of the Year
| Mary Rose Connolly, The Aquila School |
| Jatin Mulani, Emirates Schools Establishment |
| Viny Agnes, GEMS Legacy School |
| Clodagh McDonald, Ambassador International Academy |
Maths Teacher of the Year
| Liyakath Ali, Gems Legacy School |
| Teagan Nell, Smart Vision School |
| Zerina Dervishi, Dubai Schools Mirdif |
| Sharon George, The Millennium School |
Science Teacher of the Year
| Raheel Kaleem, The Aquila School |
| Sara El Kassem, American Academy for Girls |
| Namitha Sadan, GEMS Legacy School |
| Princy Soosepper, GEMS Legacy School |
Innovative Teacher of the Year
| Zainab Ashif, American International School Dubai |
| Quratulain, GEMS Legacy School |
| Hannah Jones, Horizon English School |
| Natalie Sacks, Repton School Dubai |
| Maryam Abdullah, GEMS Founders School, Al Mizhar |
| Bhawna Sajnani, GEMS Legacy School |
| Viny Agnes, GEMS Legacy School |
Teaching Assistant of the Year
| Ann Rose Vital, Smart Vision School |
| Taghrid Diaa, Dubai British School Jumeirah Park |
| Justine Santoalla, American Academy for Girls |
| Sandra Takac, Greenfield International School |
Unsung Hero of the Year
| Sherry Jan, The Aquila School |
| Thyra Rego, The Aquila School |
| Rhoda Ann Gonzales, American Academy for Girls |
| Zahid Abassi, Wales International School |
| Rita Lewis, Dubai British School Jumeirah Park |
Principal/Headteacher of the Year
| Wayne Howsen, The Aquila School |
| Foram Gohel, Tappy Toes Nursery |
| James McDonald, GEMS Wesgreen International School |
| Rachael Wilding, Smart Vision School |
| Asha Alexander, GEMS Legacy School |
| Simon O’Connor, Deira International School |
| Richard Drew, Jumeirah Baccalaureate School |
| Rashmi Nandkeolyar, Delhi Private School |
| Matthew Gary Burfield, GEMS Founders School |
| Joanna Povall, Wales International School |
| Faizal Althankandy, Our Own English High School |
Outstanding Contribution to the Community Award
| The Aquila School |
| The Millennium School |
Kindergarten/Foundation Stage Team of the Year
| Smart Vision School |
| Deira International School |
| GEMS Founders School, Dubai |
| Wales International School |
| Uptown International School |
| American Academy for Girls |
| Dubai British School Jumeirah Park |
Primary Team of the Year
| The Aquila School |
| Dubai British School Jumeirah Park |
| GEMS Founders School |
| Ambassador International Academy |
Secondary Team of the Year
| The Aquila School |
| Greenfield International School |
School Team of the Year
| Deira International School |
| Delhi Private School Dubai |
| Wales International School |
| The Millennium School |
