Inspire students to have a sense of responsibility for their own future, says Darren Gale

Al Najah Education has announced exciting developments, along with the appointment of new headteacher, Mr. Darren Gale, who will be leading the Horizon International School this September.

Edarabia had the chance to interview Mr. Darren Gale who spoke about the upcoming developments and his vision for the school.

1. How do you plan to contribute to “Al Najah Education’s broader goal of making premium education more accessible to families in Dubai”?

In Dubai, families are increasingly looking for best value for money, and a key to this is offering them a quality education at an affordable rate. This is the overarching vision of Al Najah Education, which is committed to providing it across all its educational assets.

Through diligent research and dialogue with parents and students, we ensure that we are consistently building upon our excellent educational offer. This includes, among others, upgrades to school campuses and constantly assessing school fees so that rates are affordable to parents. Further evidence of this vision is seen in the recent announcement of major infrastructure upgrades to another of Al Najah Education’s Dubai schools – Horizon English School – as well as a new and exciting programme soon to be launched at Horizon International School.

In my role as Headteacher at Horizon International School, my goal is to play a fundamental role in the school’s continued efforts to reach out to families and introduce them to the excellent offer at Al Najah Education.

2. Can you talk about the new and exciting developments here at the Horizon International School?

There are a number of developments in the pipeline, which we believe will take the students’ learning experience from strength to strength. These include a number of new extracurricular activities being introduced to the curriculum, to support the well-rounded development of students. We are also working to enhance our sporting activities to give students every opportunity to nurture their strengths on the field as well as the classroom. We have seen the current efforts proving to be very successful given the school’s success at the BSME games. Over and above these activities, Horizon International School will lead a tireless pursuit to provide the best possible offer in the classroom; supporting its students through the implementation of personalised learning pathways.

3. Tell us more about the personalised learning programmes for Mathematics, English and Science?

In secondary school, students are encouraged to adopt new techniques of learning. The programmes are designed to motivate students to develop their intellectual curiosity and use their own personal academic initiative, thus instilling in them a sense of responsibility for their own future.

4. How could educators create a personalised learning experience for students at scale?

We have a team of carefully curated educators, each with a plethora of expertise in their subsequent fields. Our teaching staff place a great focus on ensuring that, although students are taught in a group setting in classrooms, they are available to address the individual concerns and problem areas of each student if and when these arise.

Schools today are data rich environments, placing immense focus on the learner’s voice, which is a feature of great importance at Horizon International School. This data comprises student opinions, views, attendance, performance and potential, and schools must make a conscious effort to act upon this data. There are two ways in which a school can be run: The first is to follow the trends in education – which is a sure way to attract enrolments – while the second is a more stable and beneficial manner in which to operate, and involves using the available data to create a community that strives to serve the students and is also is structured around the best learning culture. This provides opportunities for children to engage in meaningful opportunities and make the most of the curriculum.

5. What makes Horizon International School’s curriculum stand out from other British schools in Dubai?

The school follows the high standards of the British Curriculum, adhering stringently to all of its key features and requirements. In addition to this, Horizon International School provides a positive learning environment that encourages students to explore their unique fields of interest. This, when coupled with the expansive curriculum that places emphasis on both academic growth and nurturing of well -rounded individuals, ensures that the school provides an experience unlike any other.

Primary students who are at an age where their surroundings and school life play a large role in their development, are provided with a rich blend of academic, social, physical, cultural and artistic learning opportunities, covering all the major subjects as well as activities that are imperative for a holistic development. Students at Years 12 and 13 are exposed to important political, social, religious and cultural issues, thereby increasing their awareness on current topics and challenges faced in today’s society.