Our Leadership Team

School Director

Simon O'Connor

I am the Director of Deira International School with oversight over both the primary and secondary schools. I have over 25 years of experience in education and joined DIS in August of 2020. Before this I was Principal of Jumeirah College, an outstanding school in Dubai, since 2013 and am now one of the longest serving principals in British Premium Schools in Dubai. I am passionate about learning and ensuring all students are challenged in lessons in order for them to achieve their full potential. I strongly believe that if this is to be achieved students should be happy at school, and therefore the wellbeing of our community is a key focus for all of us here. Prior to moving to the UAE, I taught History and Politics for over 20 years in a variety of different school contexts. In my last role in the UK, I worked as a school leader in a very successful grammar school in Kent. My role there was curriculum lead and I was also responsible for the management of a teaching school and working across an academy chain of schools which I helped to found. My key education interests are teaching and learning, curriculum design and assessment and leadership models across schools. Within this context, I worked as an Associate with High Performance Learning and led the programme across ten GEMS schools. I am also very keen to develop the wider student experience, and this was the motivation for a recent link with ArtsEd theatre school. As a student I studied for a BA in History and Philosophy at the University of Wales, College of Cardiff where I was a choral scholar at Llandaff Cathedral. I then studied for a PGCE at Trinity College, Cambridge, where I was also a choral scholar. I also hold a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership, and a National Professional Qualification for Headship.

Secondary Head Teacher

Douglas Pettitt

I am delighted and proud to be the Secondary Head Teacher at an exciting time in the Deira International School’s future development. I have been in the teaching profession for twenty-seven years and in a senior leadership role spanning eighteen years in a variety of secondary schools in the UK and now most recently in Dubai. My background and experience in teaching is Physical Education, Geography and Mathematics having qualified from Loughborough University, UK in 1993. I then went on to gain my National Professional Qualification for Headship in 2009 and led my first school as Head Teacher of Kingsmeadow School, Gateshead, UK in 2013. My most recent position since moving to Dubai in the summer of 2017 was as Secondary Principal at GEMS Wellington Academy Al Khail and after three years, establishing it as an ‘Outstanding’ British Overseas School. I was thrilled to join DIS this Autumn to further strengthen the leadership of the school. My extensive leadership experience especially at Key Stage 4 and 5 will provide strong strategic direction as students challenge themselves to be the best they can be at both at GCSE and IB qualifications.

Primary Head Teacher

Gaynor Dale

With 25 years’ experience in education, this is my third position as a Headteacher and my second within Dubai, having been a Principal previously. Having spent 5 years as a leader within Dubai, it will be my pleasure to showcase the wonderful opportunities that await your child, especially in a school as well-established and community-focused as DIS. As a passionate advocate for empathetic leadership and quality first teaching and learning, I am delighted to support our talented teachers to develop innovative and purposeful practices within the Primary school. Our approaches result in students making great progress and being prepared not only for Secondary, but for life itself! We are a true team at DIS and one that shares a vision for continuing excellence across all year groups, areas of the curriculum and wider enrichment. Feel free to peruse our website or make an appointment to come and visit our wonderful school and view its facilities.

Secondary Deputy Head Teacher

Emma Hannon

I joined Deira International School this year as Deputy Headteacher in the secondary school. My key responsibility is pastoral support, and I am also the designated safeguarding officer for the secondary school. This means that I am responsible for ensuring our students are happy and safe. I have been teaching for 20 years and in senior leadership roles for 10 years, in London, Abu Dhabi and now Dubai. I studied for a degree in Politics at the University of Cardiff and qualified with a PGCE in History from the University of York in 2001. I have undertaken a variety of senior leadership positions in the UK, including Director of Sixth Form and Deputy Principal. Most recently I was Director of Digital and Innovative Learning across two schools in Abu Dhabi. I am very excited to be joining the team at DIS, and looking forward to ensuring that we continue to offer out students a positive and enriching experience while they are with us.

Primary Deputy Head Teacher

Katie Edwards

Head of National Studies

Iman Fattoum

Hi, my name is Iman Fattoum, and I am very excited to join the DIS community. I have been working in Dubai as a teacher and Head of Department since 2013 in IB and British schools. Prior to that, I worked in teaching, managing the development of school programs and delivery of learning experiences, assisting in training teachers for content delivery, and developing national strategies to enhance some important notions such as interactive learning and active citizenship in schools in conjunction with different NGOs in Syria. I am passionate about every student in Dubai learning Arabic and using it in their daily life. In addition, I am keen to see these students fulfill their potential and discover their abilities and skills to thrive in Arabic and other aspects. I believe that learning Arabic is not only learning a language, but also about ways of thinking and a culture. As my first own students inspired me to study my MA in Educational Leadership and Innovation (Warwick University/ UK) to make a difference in their learning journey, the students in other schools have added invaluable experience to my personal and professional journey which – I am sure- will be the case in DIS.

Head of Inclusion

Eleanor Hickey

I am delighted to join Deira International School as an Assistant Head overseeing whole school Inclusion. As part of my role I will be working with our students of determination, ELL and Gifted and Talented and I cannot wait to support them all in achieving their full potential. Deira is a fantastic school to be a part of, which has staff in all roles who genuinely care about the whole child, supporting them not just in their academics, but also in their wellbeing. Having been in education now for over a decade, I have had various roles, including class teacher and Head of English, but my heart has always lay with inclusion. I enjoy working with students of all abilities, and encouraging them in following their passions, developing their confidence and growing a love for learning.

Secondary Assistant Head Teacher - Academic

Sheikh Iqbal

I am delighted to be joining the Senior Leadership Team as Assistant Head for Assessment and Curriculum Standards at Deira International School. As DIS continues its journey beyond outstanding, I look forward to ensuring that all our students achieve the best possible academic results. This is my 10th year in the teaching profession, the last 3 of which have been at DIS. During those last 3 years, I have been the Year Learning Co-ordinator for Year 10 and 11. Prior to my time at DIS, I was at a top 5 performing school in the UK where, like DIS, we were right at the forefront of education, which gave me the perfect experience to ensure that students excel academically at DIS. During my time at this school, I was selected by the Department For Education as one of the 100 Most Inspirational Teachers in the UK, an achievement I am immensely proud of. My subject specialism is Mathematics, where I have had immense success with some incredible results over the last 10 years in teaching, most notably this year where we celebrated the best ever Maths GCSE results for a single class At DIS we believe that all students can achieve academic excellence and by working with the students and parent community, together all of our students can achieve that success. I am a firm believer in the holistic development of a child and believe that a students work outside of the classroom can only benefit their work inside the classroom, therefore, it is imperative that our students develop holistically to compliment their academic success.

Secondary Assistant Head Teacher - Pastoral

Barry Lomas

I am extremely excited and proud to have joined Deira International School as Assistant Head Teacher. DIS is currently at an exciting stage in its development and I look forward to helping DIS staff, students and parents along this journey. This is my tenth year in the teaching profession, in which I have held various leadership positions both in the UK and more recently within Dubai as a Head of Sixth Form in a highly successful British Premium school. My subject specialism is Physical Education, which is a passion of mine, both in an educational setting and beyond. My sporting experience and skills cover a wide range of sports both as a player and coach. As a player I have played football, basketball, cricket and tennis through to county level. As coach I have had many successes all the way through to National level, leading various teams to both National and County success. I am very excited at the prospect of bringing similar success to DIS and building on the ‘We are DIS’ team ethos. I have a real interest around teaching and learning, curriculum design and the pastoral care of our students. I believe in developing our students holistically by offering them a wide range of experiences both inside and outside the classroom that are equipping them with the skills and knowledge to lead happy and successful lives in the future. I’m a firm believer that student success is not only measured by results, and the experiences students receive outside of the classroom are just as important as those in it. This said, our curriculum is developed to stretch and challenge all our students and is based on a solid grounding of academic excellence. Here at DIS we place a huge emphasis on not ceiling student achievement and believe all our students can be successful. Your involvement throughout the year and in your child’s, education can make all the difference and I would like to thank you in advance for your support.

Primary Assistant Head Teacher

Michael Taylor

I am thrilled to be joining Deira International School as the Primary School Assistant Head Teacher. I am originally from the great city of Newcastle, England where I began my teaching career after completing a BA (Hons) in Early Primary Education. I have been teaching internationally since 2016, and I am excited to return to Dubai after five years working as a founding member of an international school in Beijing, China. Outside of school, I am passionate about football and love to play, manage, and support amateur football leagues. I find it to be a fantastic way to bring communities together! I also enjoy exploring new countries, tackling adventurous hikes, and learning about cultures around the world. I am a firm believer in lifelong learning and relish taking on new challenges. I am an accredited performance coach and I am currently studying for a Master’s degree at Northumbria University, focusing on leadership and learning. I can't wait to meet the ambitious, creative DIS learners I have heard so much about!

Secondary Assistant Head Teacher & Whole School Student Experience

Scarlett Keyworth

I am very fortunate and delighted to say, ‘I love my job’. Being at DIS for nearly 9 years, I am grateful to work in such a wonderful, diverse and exciting school that is ambitious and student focused. As we work towards, Beyond Outstanding, I am excited to drive forward the student experience for both our primary and secondary school students, ensuring they leave DIS with a rich profile and an abundance of memories to last a lifetime. My key educational interests revolve around the development of the whole child and Holistic Education, which was a key line of inquiry for me when studying an MA in Global Education from The University of Sheffield, UK (2017). I am an advocate for student voice and strongly believe in the classroom and beyond. I aim to provide a variety of opportunities and learning experiences for every child, inside and outside of the classroom to develop and grow as a global citizen, whilst finding their individual talent, specialism and a love of learning. I am currently studying my NPQH, researching and exploring leadership in more depth. I am looking forward to leading and serving the DIS community for another great year and being part of the Al Futtaim Education Foundation family.

Primary Assistant Head Teacher

Peter McLoughlin

I am excited to begin my role as Primary Assistant Headteacher for the upcoming academic year. Originally from Warrington, United Kingdom, I began my teaching journey after completing a PGCE at Manchester Metropolitan University. Over the past ten years, I’ve had the privilege of working in three outstanding schools—one in the UK and two here in Dubai. During my three years at DIS, I have developed a strong track record of outstanding achievement, both as a classroom practitioner and as a Year Group Leader. At the heart of my educational philosophy is a deep commitment to nurturing each child’s unique potential. I believe that building strong relationships, understanding individual interests and strengths, and personalising learning experiences are key to unlocking that potential. I am passionate about fostering curiosity and critical thinking through curriculum innovation and adaptation, aiming to equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. I also place great value on working in partnership with parents and the wider community, as I believe collaboration is essential to securing the best outcomes for our learners. My leadership extends beyond the classroom and is grounded in a commitment to continuous improvement and professional growth. I mentor and coach colleagues and prioritise meaningful development opportunities that empower staff to reach their full potential. Above all, I take pride in celebrating the achievements of those I work with and in supporting them on their professional journeys. I am looking forward to the year ahead and to celebrating the many remarkable achievements our students are sure to accomplish.

Head of IB

Helen Wallis

I am delighted to be moving into the role of Head of IB at Deira International School. Having twenty years of educational experience in both the UK and across the world, most recently as Head of English at DIS and Assistant Head (Teaching and Learning) in China, I have the firm belief that good teaching is the key that can unlock every student's potential. I follow an educational philosophy of inclusivity and the IB's commitment to providing a pathway for every student is fully supportive of that. As a believer in holistic education, I have worked in various schools on the development of Learner Attributes matched to the IB Learner Profile. I am excited to see how, in my new role as Head of IB, these skills can be further embedded in the whole school curriculum and ensure that DIS produces students that achieve their potential and become the leaders of tomorrow. I am dedicated to excellence and will, as Head of IB, work to provide innovative and inspiring provision for DIS IB students. I am thrilled to be welcoming students into the new IB Learning Hub and all the opportunities that space will provide.

Head of Foundation Stage

Charlotte Tibbetts

I am absolutely delighted to begin my role as Assistant Headteacher for the upcoming academic year. As a longstanding member of the DIS community, I have a career record of outstanding achievement both as a teaching practitioner and in a variety of leadership positions. My career has spanned across all primary phases and in a variety of leadership roles, imparting invaluable insights. At the core of my educational philosophy is a profound belief in nurturing each child's unique potential. This year, I am honoured to oversee the outstanding Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Year 1 departments. This opportunity aligns seamlessly with my passion for sculpting young minds during their pivotal early years, instilling a lifelong zest for learning. Recognising the significance of these formative years, I am committed to creating an environment which enables every student to flourish academically and personally. Collaborating closely with families and the broader community is a cornerstone of my approach, as such parent partnerships are instrumental in ensuring the best outcomes for our students. My leadership philosophy extends beyond the classroom walls. I am dedicated to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth. Through mentorship, guidance, and ongoing training opportunities, I aim to empower teachers and staff to reach their full potential as well as celebrate their many achievements.

Head of AI Development/Assessment Lead - Whole School

Nicholas Bloom

I am delighted to be part of the senior leadership team at Deira International School, where I have been a member of the community for the past ten years. With a degree in Management Science (Advanced Accounting) from Swansea University and 15 years of teaching experience, I currently lead AI development at DIS, integrating innovative technologies to enhance our educational practices. Additionally, I oversee assessment and timetabling. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy rugby, CrossFit, football, and cycling. I am passionate about fostering a love for learning and critical thinking in my students, believing that teaching is not just about imparting knowledge but about inspiring students to reach their full potential, instilling confidence, and nurturing them into lifelong learners equipped for an ever-evolving world.

Class Teacher/Head of Computing & Educational Technology Lead - Primary School

Kieran Birrell

Team Content

Secondary School - Associate Assistant Head

George Stroud

I am delighted to be moving into the role of Associate Assistant Headteacher with a focus on Year 11 academics at Deira International School. Year 11 is a pivotal moment in every student’s school journey, and I am committed to ensuring that our learners are challenged, supported, and inspired as they prepare for their final examinations and beyond. As a teacher of French and Spanish, I am passionate about languages as a gateway to cultural understanding, global citizenship, and new opportunities. Alongside my classroom teaching, I am part of the school’s Teaching and Learning Team, where I contribute to the development of innovative practice across the school. My educational philosophy is rooted in high expectations, inclusivity, and the belief that every student can succeed with the right balance of challenge and guidance. In this new role, I look forward to strengthening academic support structures and fostering an environment where our students not only achieve academic excellence but also grow in confidence, resilience, and independence as they prepare for the next stage of their education.

Primary School - Associate Assistant Head

Daniel Kilsby

I am very excited to start my role as Associate Assistant Headteacher with responsibility for Science, Sustainability and Outdoor Learning in the Primary School. With over 10 years of teaching experience in the UK and Dubai, and more than 20 years of living in Dubai, I bring both local knowledge and an international perspective. My aim is to inspire a lifelong love of STEM subjects and to provide students with the knowledge and motivation to make the world a better place for future generations. My philosophy as an educator is rooted in inclusivity and engagement. I believe that the most meaningful learning comes from hands-on experiences that spark curiosity and allow children to see and feel concepts in action. Through scientific experiments, exploring sustainability initiatives, or learning outdoors, I aim to create opportunities where every child can question, discover and thrive.