Safeguarding

Dr. Navin Valrani has a passion for lifelong education. After completing his primary schooling at Dubai English Speaking School (DESS) and his secondary education at Dubai College, Dr. Navin went on to achieve academic honours at the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelors of Science in Economics from the prestigious Ivy League School. Subsequently, Dr. Navin completed his MBA with academic distinction from London Business School and his M.S. Ed from the University of Pennsylvania.
Having worked in the Al Shirawi Group for over 20 years in various roles, Dr. Navin continues to serve the world of academia: being a member of the Wharton Alumni Board from 1997 through to 2003; presently on the Board of Overseers at the Penn Graduate School of Education and on the Wharton Executive Board for Europe, Middle East and Africa; and serving as the Chairperson of the UAE Alumni Interviewing Committee for the University of Pennsylvania for the last 25 years. Dr. Navin was also a member of the Campaign Committee and the International Alumni Council at London Business School and the Chair of the Governance and Nominations Committee on the Council.
Dr. Navin is the former Chairman of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) Emirates Chapter, having served for over 5 years on the chapter board. In 2014, Dr. Navin furthered his commitment to the University of Pennsylvania and the London Business School by instituting the Monica and Dr. Navin M. Valrani scholarship fund to support students to attend both schools.

Giles Pruett is an educator through and through. After completing his A-Level studies in the UK, he trained and competed as a professional tennis player for five years until moving back into full-time study to complete his Bachelor of Education at Bedford, reading Geography and Sport Science. He immediately returned to his home city of Bath and subsequently started his teaching career as Director of Rugby, Boarding Housemaster and Geography teacher in the independent community of Prior Park College. After completing a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Management at Bath University in 2012, gaining a distinction level, Giles transferred into the international education community, joining Jumeirah College in Dubai as Vice-Principal, where he remained for four years, before becoming Secondary Principal and Deputy Head of School at GEMS World Academy, helping them to become the highest rated full IB programme school in the city.
Giles is also a qualified corporate coach with a specific interest in building impactful professional learning communities by empowering others. He has developed pastoral structures to support learning and development in three previous leadership positions, ensuring that educational outcomes have been met and exceeded. Giles has experienced and driven inspection outcomes as a Senior Leader within several different frameworks, including Ofsted, HMI, CSCI, DSIB, CIS, BSO, COBIS, working as a Lead Reviewer within the GEMS organization and as Lead Evaluator for the Council of International Schools. His core inspection specialisms fall under the domains of teaching and learning, safeguarding, child protection and leadership and management.
Giles brings a wealth of experience in coaching, school operations, pastoral care and strategic school leadership and has been instrumental in developing an Apple Distinguished Teaching Programme, Entrepreneurship and Innovation curriculum alongside the design and construction of a new Senior School Learning Centre and Entrepreneurship Hub. He has a keen interest in this strand of education, recently completing a diploma from the Penn Graduate school of Education.
Above all else, Giles is a committed father to three wonderful girls and a husband to Joanna, who is also an educator and former British Olympic Modern Pentathlete. Together they share a passion for working with children, striving to bring learning to life and making a difference.

After graduating from The University of Glasgow (PGDE Primary), Paul Fisher embarked on his teaching career, working across Key Stage 1 and 2. Following a move to Dubai in 2017, Paul Fisher moved into a leadership role as Head of Key Stage 1. This role then evolved into Assistant Principal, where Paul Fisher was responsible for the strategic development of the school.
Paul Fisher has always been an advocate for innovative teaching and has worked with local authorities in the UK to expand their use of technology within the classroom. He has experience in curriculum development and adaptation to enhance its ability to meet the needs of all learners. He believes learning should be fun, purposeful and engaging for the children.
As a teacher, Paul Fisher is passionate about inclusion. He believes that meeting the needs of all learners is vital to ensuring that all children feel successful and are able to reach their full potential. Mr Fisher believes that a positive, successful and enjoyable time at primary will inspire children to become lifelong learners.
Paul Fisher is delighted to become a member of the Arcadia team. It is a very exciting time to become a part of the Arcadia team as the school is growing from strength to strength.

Miss Edel Hickey was qualified with a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Limerick in 2014. She spent the first part of her teaching career in Ireland where she gained wide experience teaching across a range of rural and city primary schools. Prior to moving to Dubai Miss Edel Hickey was promoted to the role of Acting Deputy Principal.
Miss Edel Hickey has taught for two years in Dubai, as a Class Teacher and Science Coordinator. Miss Edel Hickey prides herself on her active and engaging approach to teaching and learning. She is an organised and enthusiastic teacher, who is practical and creative. She believes building positive relationships with children and parents is the key to a successful learning journey.

Liam Cain is an inspirational and highly motivated leader with a commitment to providing innovative and stimulating learning opportunities for young children. His range of experience in several settings has enabled him to develop a honed reflective practice and regularly use this to guide and mentor others.
Before joining Arcadia five years ago, Liam taught across Key Stage 2, as well as gaining the positions of Teacher Mentor and PE Curriculum leader. Through this, he learnt fostering positive relationships to be intrinsic to his practice, enabling children to become strong, independent learners and for staff members to truly master their craft.
Upon joining Arcadia, Liam was awarded the position of Upper Key Stage 2 leader. Within this role, he is responsible for upper-school improvement using outcomes from lesson observations and assessment data. Using this information, Liam will adapt the curriculum, ensure our staff have continual and relevant development and ultimately ensure that teachers impart a wholesome and efficient learning programme maximising the progress and enjoyment of the children.
As a teacher, Liam firmly believes in imparting essential learning skills such as communication, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration within the curriculum. He considers it imperative to teach students about the mental processes required to adapt and improve upon a modern work environment. Liam has a key interest in this strand of education and has recently embarked on the task of implementing a learning skills programme in Arcadia.
The Arcadia mission of creating 'lifelong independent learners' resonates deep inside Liam; he takes great pride in ensuring this passion is instilled in children, helping every child flourish and realise their potential. He is a dedicated individual who is committed to developing this ethos in Arcadia school.

Bryan Cahill began his working life in journalism, having gained his Bachelor of Arts, before transferring to teaching in 2007. After initially working as an English teacher with second language students, in Dublin, he then moved to London to undertake his PGCE, graduating from London South Bank University in 2010. Mr Bryan Cahill describes himself as hardworking, friendly and passionate about teaching. Prior to joining Arcadia, Bryan Cahill was teaching in a school in Westminster, London. This included roles as a subject lead, Year 4 Leader and a member of the Senior Leadership Team. In addition, Bryan Cahill was a Key Stage 2 Writing moderator for the last seven years, moderating writing samples for the Standards and Testing Agency across London.

Lauren Duffy holds a first-class Bachelor’s of Early Years Care and Education from Athlone Institute of Technology, Ireland. Prior to joining Arcadia, Lauren spent four years working in the UAE in leadership roles and as an FS2 Teacher. Her approach to teaching is child-led based learning and learning through play. She regognises its ability to empower children to explore their passions, embrace individuality and express themselves. She is determined to create a unique and fun classroom environment for every child, where they can thrive and flourish. Her goal is to foster the holistic development of each individual child.

Lauren Holden holds a Bachelor of Arts with Qualified Teacher Status from the University of Cumbria and NASENCO from Middlesex University. Following her primary teaching experience in the UK she relocated to Dubai in 2015 to pursue an international career.

Now serving as Head of Primary Inclusion, Lauren brings deep expertise in inclusive education spanning the entire Primary phase, ensuring every learner is supported in a tailored and empowering learning environment. She is a passionate advocate who builds strong relationships with students and all school stakeholders, enabling learners to thrive without limitations and flourish through bespoke, joyful learning pathways.

Looking forward to her fifth year at Arcadia, Lauren is excited to welcome back returning families and warmly welcome our new Arcadians as she continues driving inclusive practices across the Primary School.

Victoria Stewart is an experienced educator with a strong background in Physical Education, having studied at De Montfort University, UK. She has worked in schools in the UK, Qatar, and Dubai, where she has been teaching for the last nine years. With 19 years of experience as a Senior School Head of Year, Victoria brings a wealth of pastoral knowledge to her role. As Head of Girls' Football, she combines her passion for sport with her commitment to coaching, inspired by her love for football and volleyball. Victoria is a dedicated supporter of the England Lionesses and is driven to inspire girls to excel in football.

Sophie Faulkner joins the Secondary School English department with a strong academic background and extensive experience. She studied English and Philosophy at the University of Nottingham and completed her PGCE at University College London. Sophie has held roles such as Head of English and Initial Teacher Training Lead in schools across the UK. Outside of teaching, she enjoys gaming and reading. Sophie will be teaching English at the secondary school.

Charlotte Robinson joins the Secondary School Physical Education department with a strong background in sports education. She completed her Sports Studies degree and Qualified PE Teacher training at Newman University Birmingham. Charlotte has held roles such as Assistant Head of Sixth Form and Lead BTEC Coordinator in schools across England and the UAE. In her new role, she will teach PE and lead as Head of Year 9 and Post-16 PE Lead Teacher. Outside of work, Charlotte enjoys playing netball and spending time with her family.

Alexander Gray is an experienced educator and leader originally from North Birmingham in the UK. He holds a BSc in Human Biology and a PGCE in Science from Loughborough University, as well as a Master's degree in Education from the University of Bath. Alex taught science in grammar and boarding schools across the West Midlands early in his career, before serving as Head of Biology at Bishop Vesey's Grammar, a highly academically selective school founded in 1527. Seeking to broaden his experience, he moved to Dubai in 2015 and has been the Head of Science at Dubai British School Emirates Hills since 2019. In his five years at the KHDA Outstanding-rated Dubai British School, Alex has spearheaded numerous science and STEM initiatives. He is highly experienced teaching varied science curriculums including AQA, IB, A level and Edexcel programs. Professionally, Alex is a published author and member of the Chartered College of Teachers. He boasts coaching certifications from the Rugby Football Union and as a Qualified High Performance Coach. He has recently completed the National Professional Qualification for Leading Teaching and Learning (NPQLTD) with University College London. Beyond the classroom, Alex is highly involved in professional learning networks across the UAE, having delivered keynote speeches and professional development sessions at major conferences such as GESS Dubai. He has been involved in webinars and workshops for international education networks as a recognised leader and expert in pedagogy and science instruction, and most recently AI implementation in the classroom. Outside academics, Alex enjoys playing and coaching rugby, videography, and photography. He resides in Dubai with his wife Kerrie, an interior designer, and their two daughters, Ava and Olivia.