Intense training sessions for newly-joined teachers

The UAE schools are placing a greater focus on its teachers this new academic year, with improved training sessions during their induction week.

The schools have introduced new programmes and teachers have been given an in-depth training course on each new programme.

“During the teacher induction week at the end of August all of our primary staff undertook training in Maths Mastery and Accelerated reader programmes. Teacher feedback was very positive and look forward to seeing excellent progress made by learners,” said Stephen Sharples, CEO and principal of GEMS FirstPoint School.

The GEMS Metropole School in Motor City had loads of new teachers joining this year, so they also had an intense induction week for the staff.

“We had new teachers who had came in three weeks before school started and we had a whole week of induction there,” said Anthony Cashin, principal of GEMS Metropole School.

“Then, our returning teachers came in and we went over new technology that came into the school. We had two weeks of training. We’ve been extremely busy with all of our new staff coming in. Obviously, it’s very important to get our teachers sorted first, so they can devote all of their time in the classrooms.”

The number of teachers at the GEMS Al Barsha School has also grown as they’ve opened their new boys’ school. They’re investing more and more in new teachers and resources for the students.

“Our staff team has grown to support both our existing girls’ school and our new boys’ school. We have quadrupled our foundation stage (FS) provision and have experienced native speaking UK staff working along experienced native speaking Arabic staff in our bilingual programme which runs from FS1 – Y2. We have developed further our Arabic, Islamic Studies and UAE Studies curriculum, resources and staff team,” said Lesley Isherwood, principal and CEO of GEMS Al Barsha.

sarwat@khaleejtimes.com