meet the team

Michelle Thomas is a distinguished school leader with over two decades of senior leadership experience.  

Her leadership career began in 2004 with her first headship, and she has since been recognised as a National Leader of Education and Lead Ofsted Inspector in the UK. Michelle has successfully guided schools from Special Measures to Outstanding, emphasising consistency and whole school approaches as the secret to this success.  

In 2019, she became the Director of Education at an all-through school in Dubai. Before this, she was the Executive Headteacher of The New Wave Federation in London, overseeing three high performing primary schools.  

Michelle is committed to ensuring GEMS Al Barsha National School is a successful, high performing school and the first choice for families in the region.  

Youlande Biosah is an accomplished school leader with over a decade of senior leadership experience across the UK and UAE. Her educational philosophy is grounded in the belief that every student—regardless of background—deserves an exceptional education built on high expectations, inclusive practice, and character development.

Holding a Master’s in Educational Leadership from University College London, Youlande brings strategic expertise in teaching and learning, behaviour and culture, safeguarding, sixth-form development, and staff professional growth. Prior to joining GNS, Youlande moved from London to serve as Head of School (Acting Vice Principal) of a Charter School in Abu Dhabi, leading academic and pastoral transformation across middle and high school phases.

She is honoured to join the GNS community at such an ambitious stage in its development and looks forward to contributing to its journey toward excellence.

The values that guide his leadership are kindness, fairness, collaboration, and transparency—principles that foster a culture of trust, support, and empowered growth. He leads with empathy and clarity, holding high expectations while nurturing a shared vision for continuous improvement. Above all, he prioritizes the needs of students and staff to build a thriving, inclusive, and forward-thinking school community.

With over two decades of experience in education, he has held a wide range of leadership roles, driven by his passion for improving teaching and learning, raising academic standards, and developing strong professional communities. His career has included overseeing assessment and data analysis, coaching leaders and teachers, and aligning strategy with vision to drive whole-school improvement, while fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration.

Beyond his professional role, he is passionate about personal development, educational research, and leadership theory. He enjoys reading widely on topics such as cognitive science and communication, and is particularly interested in strategies that support wellbeing and resilience in both students and staff.

Sarah is an experienced senior leader who has worked in the UAE for 10 years working in at GNS and previously at an outstanding Primary school in Abu Dhabi. 

Sarah began her educational career in Birmingham, England where she gained her degree in Primary Education with a specialism in Geography. After working in England for 6 years in 2 schools, Sarah moved to Abu Dhabi to work in a Primary only school where her leadership career began. Sarah has had a variety of leadership roles and her previous school received 2 consecutive Outstanding ratings by ADEK. 

Sarah is a passionate educator who has continued her professional development and gained her NPQH accreditation in May 2021. She understands the importance of the balance of providing high quality and culturally relevant education alongside a nurturing and caring environment.  

Claudia believes in an education that goes beyond academics—nurturing confident, compassionate, and curious young people who are prepared not only for exams, but for life.​

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With over 13 years of experience in education, 12 of those in Dubai, Claudia brings a passion for curriculum innovation, inclusive leadership, and student-centred learning. She is committed to fostering a culture where every student feels seen, supported, and stretched, and where strong partnerships with families are central to success.​

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She looks forward to working closely with students, families, and colleagues to build a thriving, future-ready Secondary school community.​

After qualifying as a Secondary PE teacher, Eddie spent seven years working across a range of alternative and specialist settings before returning to mainstream education, where he has served as SENDCo for the past five years. He began his teaching career in Yorkshire, later moving to London, before relocating to Dubai in 2024.

His experience has provided him with a deep understanding of the challenges that some young people and their families face in both life and learning. He believes it is the responsibility of educators to identify and break down barriers, build on individual strengths, and provide every child with opportunities to succeed—regardless of their starting point. Eddie is a strong advocate for embracing differences and adopting a positive, proactive approach to inclusion.

Eddie looks forward to the next step in his career at GNS and to working with colleagues to further develop inclusion across the school.

Laura has extensive teaching experience having taught in all primary key stages from the Foundation Stage to Key Stage 2. She graduated from Canterbury Christchurch University in 2006 with a BA Hons in Primary Education, specialising in Mathematics and History. Laura began her teaching career teaching in a small school in South East London. 

In 2013, Laura moved to Dubai where she worked in another GEMS school for 8 years before joining GNS in 2021. Laura has held a number of leadership positions including Primary Assessment Leader, Head of FS2, Head of Year 1 and now Assistant Principal.  

Erin is delighted to begin her fifth year at GEMS Al Barsha National School, continuing in the role as Assistant Principal, leading on Key Stage 2 and Maths. ​

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Erin brings a strong sense of enthusiasm, dedication, and strategic thinking to her new role, always striving for excellence in learning outcomes, staff development, and whole-school improvement initiatives. ​

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With over 13 years of teaching experience in both the United Kingdom and Dubai, Erin has developed a deep understanding of effective teaching strategies, educational leadership, and resource management. Her Masters in Inclusive Education further strengthens her commitment to ensuring that every child receives the highest quality of education through engaging, inclusive, and purposeful learning experiences. ​

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Within her leadership role, she will be working closely with staff to raise standards, build capacity, and drive innovation across KS2 and in the teaching of mathematics. Erin strongly believes in the importance of collaboration and professional growth, and she is passionate about empowering teachers to continuously develop their practice to benefit all learners. ​

Gareth has worked in education for 12 years, beginning after he completed his Post Graduate Certificate in Education at the University of Hull. Gareth’s experience has been focused on Primary Education, and since moving to the UAE in 2015, he has been with GNS since 2017. 

Over the years, Gareth has progressed into leadership roles, and after successfully completing the National Professional Qualification in Senior Leadership (NPQSL) in 2021. He has spent the last three years working as an Assistant Principal at GNS each year growing and developing in this role.  

Recently, Gareth has taken on the roles of whole school Assistant Principal and Designated Safeguarding Lead where he is responsible for student experiences. 

Ahmed started his career as a secondary school Mathematics Teacher in the UK.  He holds 2 Masters Degrees in Finance and Investments and has worked in the investment industry for several years before training to be a teacher. Prior to joining GNS, he held a number of leadership roles and has contributed to the strategic development and implementation of a high quality curriculum, learning and teaching programs and platforms across a high performing school here in Dubai.  

Ahmed believes that all students deserve an outstanding education and an opportunity to thrive. He has always held a passion for mathematics and after training as a teacher, he enjoys instilling this passion into all the students he teaches. He is a firm believer that an excellent education will lead to young people being able to access exciting opportunities across many fields.​ 

As an educator, he values high expectations, equity, and creating an environment where every child can thrive both academically and personally. He believes strongly in the power of consistent, high-quality teaching, positive relationships, and a love of reading to transform outcomes.​

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With over a decade of experience in education, including the past eight years in the UAE, he has held senior leadership roles focused on curriculum development, school improvement, and whole-school literacy. He has recently completed the NPQSL and has a particular interest in evidence-informed practice and supporting staff development.​

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At GNS, he looks forward to building on the excellent work already taking place within a dedicated team and to working closely with the whole school community.​

With over 10 years of experience as a senior leader, she is passionate about delivering high-quality education and supporting students from diverse cultural backgrounds. Vanessa brings boundless energy, determination, and a strong commitment to improving opportunities and outcomes for all students.​

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Throughout her career, she has developed expertise in strategic planning, curriculum design, and fostering positive learning environments. She is confident in her ability to embrace new challenges and thrive in her role at GEMS Al Barsha National School.​

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Vanessa is inspired by the motto: “There are no limits on what you can achieve with your life, except the limits you accept in your mind,” which drives her to push herself every day to become the best version of herself.​

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