Repton family of schools appoints senior leadership team

• Vice Principal, Steven Lupton appointed as Interim Principal in the interim for Repton Abu Dhabi
• Bidding farewell to Repton Al Barsha, Zoe Woolley joins Jeddah Prep and Grammar School as first female Headmistress

UAE: The Repton Family of Schools in the UAE bids farewell to Zoe Woolley as Headmistress of Repton Al Barsha, taking on a new challenge as one of the first female Heads in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the first female Headmistress of Jeddah Prep and Grammar school in Jeddah, KSA, at the start of the 2022 – 2023 academic year.

Zoe Woolley has been part of the Repton senior leadership team since 2015 and has played a vital role in the expansion of the Al Barsha South campus into Senior School years, following a strategically designed organic year-on-year growth to provide the IGCSE curriculum in Year 10 and Year 11 and A-levels for Year 12 and Year 13. Currently, Repton Al Barsha has successfully established, and offers, academic excellence for Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9; and in September 2021, Repton Al Barsha appointed Chandini Misra as the new Head of Senior School to spearhead the school’s expansion into Senior School.

Zoe Woolley, Headmistress of Repton Al Barsha conveys, “It has been an honour leading Repton Al Barsha, working with an expert group of teachers and staff, and delivering academic excellence over the past six years at Repton Al Barsha. I would like to thank our parents for entrusting me and the school with their children’s academic development. It gives me great pleasure to have worked with talented Reptonians, and the current student faculty who continue to showcase the enriched Repton values in school and their personal lives. As I take on this new adventure, I would also like to share my heartfelt gratitude to the Repton Family of Schools for welcoming me into their family and supporting in my growth as Headmistress.”

Chandini Misra will be joined by Repton Abu Dhabi’s Principal, Gillian Hammond as the Interim Principal for the 2022 – 2023 academic year, with a smooth transition for the rest of the current academic year. Miss Hammond brings a wealth of experience to the Al Barsha South campus, having joined the Repton Family of Schools since the 2017-2018 academic year.

Miss Hammond, Principal of Repton Abu Dhabi says, “I would like to thank the Repton Family of Schools for granting me with this opportunity and I wish my colleague, Mrs Woolley, the very best of luck as she takes on a new challenge as the first female Head at Jeddah Prep and Grammar School and one of the first female Heads in KSA. She has been an inspiration to staff and students during her tenure with the Repton Family of School. Admired by parents for her passion and dedication, Mrs Woolley has supported in bringing the parent community closer together by keeping open lines of regular communication on student development.” 

Miss Hammond continues, “I am humbled by the Board of Governors’ decision on my appointment as Interim Principal of Repton Al Barsha. I will miss my Repton Abu Dhabi family immensely over the next year, but leave them under the guidance of my devoted team, who have the expertise required to continue Repton Abu Dhabi’s outstanding performance in the UAE education framework.”

Since joining the Repton community, Miss Hammond has successfully established a strong cohesive unit within the senior leadership team and building a vibrant Repton community in Abu Dhabi. Under her leadership, Repton Abu Dhabi achieved outstanding GCSE results by the 2021 graduating cohort, consistently attained a higher-than-average UK attainment in Math, English and Science across all age groups and the latest Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS) results were higher at Repton Abu Dhabi than other Private or Local schools in the capital. Repton Abu Dhabi also achieved its Apple Distinguished School reaccreditation for a second time since the school was awarded with this coveted accolade back in 2016, making it the only school in the Middle East to achieve this.

Miss Hammond has also played an integral role in developing an empowered, supportive and proactive parent committee – ‘Friends of Repton’. Vice Principal Steven Lupton will take over as Interim Principal of Repton Abu Dhabi with a highly talented existing senior leadership team including Aran Smith, Acting Vice Principal and Headteacher of Junior School, Stephen Davis, Headteacher of Senior School and Marie Al Nasrawi, as Headteacher of Rose campus at Repton Abu Dhabi.

With a strong leadership team, boasting a wealth of experience, The Repton Family of Schools looks forward to a prosperous academic school year for 2022 – 2023. 

“Mrs Woolley has displayed exceptional academic standards, delivering the highest quality of education at Repton Al Barsha. I would like to thank her for the hard work in establishing a strong Senior School foundation and attaining accolades for innovative teaching methodologies including Repton Al Barsha’s accreditation as an Apple Distinguished School. I commend Mrs Woolley for taking on this endeavor, setting an example for students to strive to new heights and we wish her the very best for the future. I am confident the leadership teams under Miss Hammond and Mr Lupton’s guidance will continue to achieve educational excellence at Repton Al Barsha and Repton Abu Dhabi,” concludes David Cook, Headmaster of Repton Dubai and Chief Education officer for the Repton Family of Schools in the UAE.

For further information please visit:

• www.reptonalbarsha.org 
• www.reptonabudhabi.org 

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About Repton Al Barsha

Repton Al Barsha, situated in Dubai Science Park in Al Barsha South, is one of the leading British schools for children aged three to 18. Formerly known as Foremarke School Dubai, it is part of Evolvence Knowledge Investments (EKI) and the Repton Family of Schools in the UAE.

Repton Al Barsha welcomed its first students in 2013 and mirrors the Repton Family of School’s belief in traditional values, one-to-one pastoral care and the overall holistic development of a child.  

The curriculum follows the UK National Curriculum for England, enhanced with the elements of the ISEB curriculum and is designed to meet the rigorous standards expected for 11+ and Common Entrance examinations. Repton Al Barsha promotes inclusivity of children with special needs and more able, gifted & talented students.

The school features a large campus with outstanding facilities and amenities that contribute towards a child’s development beyond the classroom. Repton Al Barsha is an accredited member of the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS) and an 'IAPS World Hub School'. It was the first school in the UAE, and only the second school globally, to have been given this prestigious status. It has also been re-accredited as an Apple Distinguished School for 2021-2024 for its use of technology and compelling learning environment that engages students and enhances learning across all of its year groups.

About Repton School Abu Dhabi 

Repton School Abu Dhabi, part of Evolvence Knowledge Investments (EKI), was established in 2013 as a world-class educational institution in the UAE capital.  Repton School Abu Dhabi is the partner school of the reputed Repton School in the United Kingdom, which was founded in 1557 and continues to boast a stellar reputation in both the academic and sporting fields.  Repton Abu Dhabi follows the UK curriculum and offers a holistic approach to education, ensuring “the best for every child” by developing a learning environment where students thrive academically, physically and socially. It was also the first school in the region to become accredited as an Apple Distinguished School in 2016 due to its focus on becoming a Centre of Excellence for digitally fluent teaching and learning and has been consistently rated “Very Good” by ADEK since 2015. 

The school is accommodated across two campuses on Reem Island, over 30,000 sq. metres of space, offering outstanding state-of-the-art learning, recreational and sports facilities. The Repton Foundation School is on Rose Campus, encompassing Nursery (FS1) to Year 1 and boasts airy and bright educational spaces, several multipurpose halls, a library and an indoor swimming pool. Fry Campus, catering to students from Year 2 to Year 13, is designed in a contemporary style with an innovative learning environment and first-rate sports facilities.  The school offers both the IGCSE and A-level curricula.   

Media Contact:
Justin Froes
Justin.f@qcomms.ae
+971 52 241 5397

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