A MOMENT WITH ALISON LAMB
A MOMENT WITH
ALISON LAMB
PRINCIPAL , DUBAI HEIGHTS ACADEMY aspects of the job like building management , health and safety , finances , marketing , recruitment , human resources and local politics .
One of the biggest lessons I have learned is the importance of developing a strong and capable team around you , a team that you value , a loyal cohort of like-minded leaders , which helps make this big job a little easier .
Alison grew up in County Durham , in a town called Chester-le-Street in the North East of England . She had a very happy childhood with her parents and elder brother . They were a closeknit family who regularly got together for special occasions .
Her mother was an inclusion teacher and her father was an engineer . Alison has very happy memories of annual family camping holidays in Europe . She have always loved the outdoors particularly time spent on the coast and at the seaside
Outside of school , Alison was particularly interested in music , playing in weekend orchestras and also playing piano , clarinet and violin in bands . Alison was also keen on sports and played in the county netball and hockey tournaments including county swimming & athletics events .
In this A Moment Feature we get to know more about Alison , the woman , the teacher and the school leader .
1 . What are your fondest memories of school and who was your favourite teacher ?
I loved going to school , especially in my junior years 7-11 years and I liked being selected to do jobs for the teachers and the headteacher . I loved project work and activities that were more creative and visual and I really enjoyed being given extra responsibilities because it helped me develop self-confidence .
At Junior school I was identified as having a talent for sports and I was often selected to play for teams with members older than I was . One of my fondest memories was a ‘ snow day ’ - a day we couldn ' t travel very far as the roads were closed due to the bad weather . My mother couldn ’ t drive to her own school and therefore had to teach my class and I can remember being incredibly proud of her .
My secondary school years were more challenging . I really had to work hard to achieve , things didn ’ t come so naturally to me and I didn ’ t seem to be able to find a niche or a subject to excel at except my sports and performing arts .
Although I didn ’ t have a favourite teacher , I would say that one of my best teachers was my English teacher . He was a passionate and intelligent teacher and was always willing to give his time to help me achieve my best despite the fact he was a very busy deputy headteacher .
2 . What led you to a career in education ?
I always wanted to work in the medical field . I was inspired by forensic science after watching TV dramas and a work experience , observing my friend ’ s dad at work in hospitals in and around Newcastle . However , I didn ' t achieve the qualifications required to enter into this work so when I left school I initially registered to train as a nurse , but soon realised it wasn ’ t really what I wanted to do ( I am not good at early mornings and the sight of too much blood !).
So , I decided to follow in my mother and grandmother ' s footsteps and become a teacher and spent the following four years at Northumbria University studying for a Bachelor In Education ( Hons ) Degree and as soon as I started teacher training I was in my element . Teaching came naturally to me and for the first time I was excelling in my ‘ work ’ and being recognised as a talented and engaging teacher .
3 . What are some of the key lessons you have learned as a school leader ?
This job isn ’ t easy , being the inspiration , visionary coach , sounding board , disciplinarian , advocate , negotiator , instructional leader , face and voice of the school is an extremely tall order . Along with many other technical
Another big lesson is the importance of parent and community engagement , the basis of which is built on trust . It needs to be earned and subsequently that trust feeds naturally into respect . However , if that relationship breaks down , no one wins , leaders need to earn trust and command respect .
4 . What advice would give to other female educators who aspire to be principals ?
First and foremost , I ’ d say get quality training and connect and learn from other more experienced teachers . Experience different schools , various locations , learn from different styles of leadership and identify where your niche is . Play your career journey to your strengths , dream big and practice resilience – but always believe in yourself and your potential .
Proactively manage your own career ; don ' t wait to be seen , be positive , dare to be different and don ’ t be afraid to take risks . Having said that , remember to take care of yourself , it is important to take regular breaks , spend time with family and friends , and eat well to have a sustainably healthy lifestyle . Be a creative , solution orientated problem solver , because schools always have a host of difficult , complicated problems that require innovative solutions .
5 . What educational reforms has the UAE witnessed over the past decade ?
The UAE has undergone monumental changes over the last 10 years with some major educational reforms . This includes a moral education initiative as a core component of the curriculum . These values are used to reinforce the history and development of the UAE , as well as educate about local customs , values and traditions .
The evaluation of educational standards has changed and developed over the last 10 years . A strategic plan was launched by the Ministry of Education to develop an innovative education system for building a knowledgeable
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Term 2 Jan - Mar 2021 After the Bell