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.

Nicola Walker is originally from Derbyshire, England and lives here in Dubai with her husband and daughter.
She has been teaching in the Early Years for eleven years, eight of those at schools in Dubai. She has taught in a wide range of school settings as a Foundation Stage teacher, FS2 leader and 'Special Educational Needs' teacher.
Walker strives to ensure that children come to school feeling happy, confident and excited to learn. She believes that children learn best when they are encouraged to be creative and independent in a safe and engaging environment. She celebrates achievement at all levels and works hard to support all children to reach their potential, both as learners and as individuals.
Outside of school, Mrs Walker enjoys spending time with family, cooking, reading, travelling and spending as much time as possible outdoors.

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.

CDA Licensed Counselling Psychologist & Play Therapist PTUK Play Therapist | Parent Coach | Trauma-Focused Practitioner | Person-Centred Therapist
Greetings! I am a dedicated and empathetic counselling psychologist specialising in play therapy. With a profound belief in creating collaborative and non-judgmental spaces, I am passionate about supporting children, young people, adults, and families on their unique journeys.
I pursued my bachelor's and master's degrees in counselling psychology, setting the foundation for my enriching career. Additionally, I am a certified Play Therapist from PTUK, using an integrative and holistic model of therapeutic play. I am adept at parent coaching, trauma-focused approaches, and person-centred therapy, tailoring my interventions to meet individual needs.
My journey has taken me to the dynamic educational landscape of the UAE, where I have over a decade of experience in counselling, play therapy and special education. Holding a CDA licence and ABA certification, I combine my diverse skill set to create a holistic support system for my students.
Within the realm of therapeutic models, I am proficient in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, and specialise in child centred play therapy. Furthermore, I excel at implementing well-being initiatives, utilising positive learning strategies to foster team building, communication, and conflict resolution.
One of my areas of expertise is parent coaching. I work closely with parents to establish effective boundaries, taking into consideration the cultural context and tailoring strategies to meet their unique needs.I am dedicated to making home environments more harmonious by fostering open communication, understanding, and cooperation.
Beyond work, I'm passionate about board games, boxing, and reading. I find joy in organising, whether it's spaces or ideas.
I am thrilled to be a part of Arcadia School, contributing to the growth and well-being of our school community. Together, we embark on a journey of discovery, healing, and empowerment. Let's make this journey a memorable one, together.

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.

Imani Henry joins the Secondary School Psychology department with a strong academic and professional background. She holds a Master's in Leadership, a Bachelor's in Psychology, and a PGCE in Psychology from UK universities. With five years of teaching experience in North London, including roles as Head of Year 12 and Year 13, she also brings valuable experience from her previous career as a prison officer, working in the UK prison and probation service. Outside of teaching, Imani enjoys fitness, travelling, and spending time with friends and family. At Arcadia, she will teach Psychology and serve as Head of Year 10.

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.