meet the team

Having graduated in Geography and Economics from University of Surrey, Ann Haydon completed her PGCE at University of Nottingham, going on to gain the National Qualification for Headship from University of London in 2007. She is a fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching.

Ms Haydon served as Deputy Head at Guildford High School before taking up the position of Principal of Surbiton High School in 2008. It was during her time at Surbiton High School that Ms Haydon and her team received the ‘Outstanding Senior Leadership Team of the Year’ as well as ‘Outstanding Governing Board of the Year’ awards from Independent Schools. In 2017, Ms Haydon took on the role of Head of Harrow International School Hong Kong, named one of the Top 100 Schools in the World since 2020.

Ms Haydon was awarded a distinction in the Pearson UK Headteacher of the Year Award and gained national recognition for her work in leadership, governance, teaching and learning, and marketing in schools. In 2024, she was named on King Charles III’s New Year’s Honours List and awarded an MBE for services to British Education in the UK and Hong Kong.

Ms Haydon has served as HMC London Division Secretary, a member of the HMC Sports Committee, and International Schools representative on the HMC Communications Committee. She was a member of the United Learning Heads Reference Group working on strategic developments across a group of independent schools and academies and she has sat on the governing body of several independent schools.

Paula has been at the Academy since it opened in 2013, mainly working across the Foundation and Primary stages. It has been an absolute pleasure for her to see the Academy children grow and develop over the years, becoming increasingly confident, independent and resilient in their learning. A graduate of the University of Strathclyde, Paula has a four-year honours degree in education specialising in both music and additional support for learning. She has also completed a postgraduate certificate in inclusive education.

A highly experienced practitioner in a range of settings, Paula has a broad and comprehensive understanding of child development. She believes that the best education starts with the personal, social and emotional needs of the child, ensuring that they are happy, confident and ready to learn. She believes that learning should be personalised for each student, with all children appropriately challenged and supported. She also believes children should have opportunities to learn independently and in collaboration with others. They should be encouraged to be inquisitive, creative and innovative. They should learn to see 'mistakes' as part of the learning process, helping them to challenge their thinking and solve problems in different ways.

Outside of school, Paula enjoys enjoy playing tennis, reading fiction books and cooking. She likes to think of herself as an active person but, in reality, loves nothing better than curling up on the couch to watch a movie with her husband and two cats, Harry and Voldemort.

Over the last seven years, Paula has built excellent relationships with children, parents and staff across the Academy community. Her door is always open to celebrate achievements, welcome feedback and support teaching and learning.

Georgina joined the Academy as an Assistant Principal in 2021 and has held a variety of leadership positions in the eleven years she has been at GEMS Education. She is a highly experienced educator with a passion for pastoral care, safeguarding, and behavior management which she believes are crucial aspects of a student's holistic development. She brings to GEMS Wellington Academy Al Khail an exceptional track record of success in helping students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Georgina's teaching career began more than 20 years ago as a graduate of Surrey University with a bachelor’s degree followed by a Postgraduate Certificate of Education. Georgina has taught across both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 as well as being a Head of Year in both Year 2 and Year 4, allowing her to develop a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities at different stages of a student's academic journey.  She was appointed her first senior leadership role as Assistant Principal for FS and KS1 and over the years, she has gained extensive experience in designing and implementing strategies that are effective and supportive for students of all ages and backgrounds.

In her current role, she is responsible for creating a safe and nurturing learning environment for all students, as well as developing and implementing policies and procedures that ensure the wellbeing of every child. Georgina is committed to building strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues. She firmly believes in the power of collaboration and actively works towards creating a supportive and caring school community. Her open-door policy ensures that she is always accessible to those who seek guidance or support.

Outside of school, you can usually find Georgina planning her next adventure around the world as she is an avid traveler. Having grown up in Hong Kong and Bahrain, she spent her university days in England followed by nearly 17 years in the UAE. She is most definitely a Third Culture Child. Her multicultural experiences have shaped her worldview and instilled in her a deep appreciation for diversity and culture.

Over the last 13 years, Georgina is most proud of the relationships she has built with children, parents and staff at GEMS Education. Her door is always open and she is very much looking forward to meeting and getting to know all our new children and parents. 

Stacey joined the Academy as the Director of Inclusion in 2021, having worked for GEMS Education for the past 10 years both here in the UAE and in Switzerland as an Inclusion and ELL teacher and then a Head of Department. 

A graduate of Sheffield Hallam University, Stacey has taught in early years and primary education working in both mainstream settings and specialist provisions. Stacey also ran a special needs nursery focused on preparing students for their entry to mainstream school, liaising with external therapists and support services. Since moving to Dubai, she has qualified as a SENCO and went on to achieve her Masters of Special Educational Needs with a focus on Speech and Language, Autism and Dyslexia. 

Stacey is committed to providing a personalised learning experience for all children where everyone is valued for their strengths and supported in their challenges.  This may not always be done by following one pathway and she is proud of the opportunities that the Inclusion team provide at WEK for every child to flourish. She firmly believes that all children can succeed and is looking forward to seeing what they can achieve in the future.  

Outside of school, Stacey enjoys spending time with her family including her two children, Isabelle and Thomas. She can be found at the weekend enjoying the pool or beach or tucked up at home with a good book or movie. 

Steven Kay is an experienced teacher who has been working at Wellington Academy Al Khail for several years. He is known for his passion for teaching and his ability to engage and inspire students of all ages. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Post Graduate Teaching Certificate from Manchester Metropolitan University. 

Throughout his career, Steven has demonstrated a commitment to student-centered learning and has worked to develop innovative and effective teaching strategies. He is always keen to find new and exciting activities which will engage students and foster 21st century learning skills to ensure that our students have the support they need to succeed in the future.

In addition to his work in the classroom, Steven also holds the position of Wellington Director for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and believes that a secure foundation of knowledge and skills in these subjects will help ensure our students are in a prime position to excel in the future workplace, regardless of what that may look like. His dedication to our students and his passion for teaching make him a valuable member of the Wellington Academy Al Khail community.