meet the team

I joined GEMS Education in 2018 and was appointed Principal of GEMS FirstPoint School in the summer of 2022. Before this role, I served as Principal of GEMS Winchester School – Fujairah, proudly supporting the school community for nearly four years. My leadership journey spans more than 20 years across top-tier schools, including seven years leading two prestigious independent schools in the UK and another seven years guiding premium institutions in Singapore and Malaysia. With extensive experience across both Primary and Secondary education, I consider myself a dedicated 'whole school' leader.

Originally a Business graduate, I began my professional career as an accountant before making what I now recognize as my best decision — retraining as a teacher. Finding my true calling, I went on to earn a master’s degree in Educational Leadership, graduating with a rare 'High Distinction.' I have recently completed the UK's National Professional Qualification (NPQ) for Executive Leadership, and I now facilitate the NPQ for Headteachers, training aspiring principals and headteachers from across the UAE. I view it as a profound privilege to shape the lives of young people, and to be able to provide a culture in which colleagues can develop professionally; I am deeply committed to fostering a lifelong learning philosophy. Each day brings an opportunity to learn from the brilliant students and dedicated colleagues around me.

Beyond education, I am passionate about sports and driving innovation. In a previous role, I served as Director of Innovation at an Apple Distinguished School, where I championed forward-thinking educational initiatives. Being part of the FirstPoint community is a true joy, especially as my son has been happily enrolled here for several years. I am fully committed to continuing our journey of excellence together.

Having moved to the United Arab Emirates as a teacher in 2013, I have worked in four schools, in a variety of leadership positions, and joined FirstPoint School in the summer of 2022. It has been a wonderful journey for my family, none more so than in recent years at FPS, where we have the most friendly and supportive school community.

I completed my degree in Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Teesside, where I achieved 1st Class Honours, before completing my teaching qualification at Durham University. I also hold a Master’s degree with distinction in Educational Leadership and Management from Nottingham University. To further my educational leadership journey, I completed my National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH), and I am now excited to be leading our incredible school.

My educational philosophy is to ensure that every child is provided with the opportunity to flourish in their own right, is made to feel special, and loves to come to school each day. To achieve this, it is vital to build a community where the school works in partnership with parents to support the learning of every child. I believe that by embedding this philosophy at the school, the FPS community will truly experience a wonderful family school that we are all proud to be part of.

Away from education, I am a keen golfer and also play the guitar. I have a wonderful wife and three amazing sons, who keep me busy whenever I am not at work. I am delighted to be part of the FPS community as we journey towards ‘Outstanding’ together.

I graduated from University with a First Class Honours degree in Primary Education. Prior to moving to Dubai, I taught in the South East of England across the Primary phases in Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. I became a teacher to inspire young children across the world to develop a love of learning, through infinite opportunities and rich learning experiences.

I joined GEMS FirstPoint School - The Villa in 2016 and have worked in various roles to ensure our children are happy, confident and resilient learners. Having completed my National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH), I am deeply committed to the holistic development of every child. As education evolves, leaders and teachers need to be able to prepare children for their success in a changing world. At FPS, we provide an enriched curriculum that allows our children to be creative, challenged and adventurous with the freedom, time and space to learn and demonstrate their independence. We look forward to welcoming your children into our stimulating learning environments that open up a world of possibility and opportunity.

I am proud to work at such a prestigious school as GEMS FirstPoint School, and am driven to achieve the best for every child and family. I expect all staff and students to achieve and exceed their peak potential and I support them to do so by making learning enjoyable, enabling students to achieve skills and qualifications which will support them in later life.

I have a BA Honours degree in European and International Politics from Northumbria University, a PGCE from Middlesex University, the National Professional Qualification in Senior Leadership from the Institute of Education and am currently studying for an MA in Educational Leadership. I taught Geography and Politics in the UK for ten years and held various leadership roles including Head of Department, Head of Year and Senior Leader in charge of Intervention, before moving to Dubai in 2016. At each school I have worked, and in each leadership role, I have raised standards and enabled students to set new school records for attainment.

My wife is also a teacher and we have two young sons, Thomas and Oliver, and I am enjoying the challenges of parenthood. In my spare time I am interested in rugby, which I played to a high standard for over 20 years and presently enjoy cycling. As a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society I enjoy all things Geography including international travel.

I began my journey at GEMS FirstPoint School in 2017, working within Key Stage 2. Over the years, I've had the privilege to work in various roles and areas of the school, and I am delighted to be Deputy Head of Primary. In this role, I support all areas of the school, ensuring we offer an inspiring curriculum that motivates our students, helping them to be happy and successful. It is my passion to create an environment where every child thrives, and I am dedicated to contributing to their academic and personal growth.

I am originally from Durham in the North East of England. I have a strong background in primary education, having worked in a small school in Key Stage 2 before joining GEMS FirstPoint. This year, I am excited to be completing my National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH), furthering my commitment to ensuring our young learners receive the best possible start in an ever-changing world. I am incredibly proud to be part of GEMS FirstPoint School, where we believe in empowering our students to take ownership of their learning, developing their growing sense of curiosity and resilience that will serve them throughout their lives.

It is with immense pride that I undertake the Deputy Head of Secondary role at GEMS FirstPoint School, a community that has had a great impact on my life since 2016.

I graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2010 with BA (Hons) Physical Education, before moving to the USA to lead on the delivery of Soccer Camps for young people aged 3-18, an experience that ignited my passion for international education. In 2012, I completed a PGCE in Secondary Physical Education at Edge Hill University and started teaching at an ‘Outstanding’ Academy Federation in London; I spent 4 years delivering Physical Education to Key Stage 3-5 students and led as Head of Most Able and Talented. In my time at GEMS FirstPoint School, I have delivered ‘Outstanding’ outcomes in a number of Middle and Senior Leadership roles: Head of Year, Director and Assistant Principal. I am currently completing the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) and look forward to refining and implementing research-driven initiatives for your children.

As parents, students and staff, we have achieved so much together. With continued positive relationships, high expectations and application, we will work cohesively to provide the best learning environment for all of our young people: happy, well-rounded and globally aware students that have the highest aspirations and an intrinsic desire to achieve and be the best individuals that they can be.

I joined FirstPoint in 2017 and since working here I have been continually inspired by our students’ enthusiasm for learning. Throughout my career, I have been motivated to build a culture of academic excellence and to equip students with the skills to become global citizens who are poised to avail of every opportunity in their future.

I gained my undergraduate degree in Law (LLB) from the University of Warwick and whilst at university became involved with a number of education societies which inspired me to pursue a career in education. I completed my PGCE in English at Canterbury Christ Church University with the Teach First programme and began working in a school in Kent where I took on leadership roles in advancing progress and attainment outcomes. It was there that I developed my passion for improving standards of literacy and I continued to develop literacy pedagogy at FirstPoint in positions as Deputy Head of English and Head of English.

At FirstPoint, our teachers are committed to following evidence-based research practices that ensure we maximise the potential of every single student. It is a privilege to work with such a talented team of educators and I am thrilled to take on the role of developing teaching and learning across our school.

With over a decade of expertise in data management and school improvement, I am a seasoned educational leader proud to serve as Assistant Principal at GEMS FirstPoint School. I have more than five years of experience in the UAE educational sector, having relocated in 2019, along with extensive experience supporting a diverse range of schools across the UK.

I am a leading expert in educational data and information systems, and have a proven track record of creating data-driven and informed cultures across organizations. I have raised standards through the implementation of robust and rigorous systems, and have consistently improved teaching and learning standards through innovative technologies.

Prior to my current role, I served as Director of Data and Information Systems at GEMS Winchester School – Fujairah, where I led initiatives to optimize data processes and systems across the institution. I previously worked as a Data Analyst at Swiss Cottage School Development & Research Centre in the UK. I hold a UK qualification in School Business Management, a National Senior Leadership qualification (NPQSL), and a Master’s degree in Information and Operational Management. In 2018, the National College for Teaching & Leadership recognized me as a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) following successful completion of the London Aspiring Leaders programme in 2016.

As a strategic leader, I excel in aligning operational goals with school improvement priorities - I address complex challenges, streamline systems, and foster a collaborative environment where data-driven decisions lead to improved student outcomes. I am committed to creating data-centric cultures within schools, demonstrating the clear link between data insights and student achievement. My leadership drives positive, sustainable changes across the whole school community.

My name is Asif Mansoor, and it is my privilege to join you all on your journeys as part of GEMS FirstPoint School. I am looking forward to meeting you personally and working with you to ensure the best possible experiences and outcomes for our children. 

I am a UK-qualified teacher of Arabic, Islamic Studies and Chemistry. I am fortunate to have experience teaching through KS1-5 and see the beauty and challenges each stage brings with it. I have taught in the UK, Denmark, Qatar and most recently in the UAE, where I come to you with five years of Senior Leadership experience as Head of UAE MoE Subjects.

I had initially planned for a career in the sciences and graduated with a BSc. Joint Honours in Molecular Biology and Immunology at King's College, London. A change of heart later, which I will happily discuss with you over some coffee, led to my completing a BA in Sharee’ah (Islamic Law) from Al Azhar University, Cairo. I completed my PGCE at Master's level at Goldsmiths, University of London and a further Post-ITT Subject Knowledge Enhancement course in KS3-5 Chemistry at University College London's Institute of Education.

I am humbled by having completed the memorisation of the Noble Quran whilst in Egypt where I also gained permission to narrate all the major books of Hadeeth. I worked as an Imam and Khateeb prior to completing my PGCE, and continued to work with a number of charities and Islamic centres thereafter, before moving to the UAE.

I hold myself to very high professional and personal standards and would like you to have peace of mind in knowing that our children's happiness and wellbeing are of paramount importance to me. I am committed to fulfilling the trust you will be placing in me by ensuring that our children continue to thrive in secure and nurturing environments, that they are engaged, inspired and encouraged to develop the best versions of themselves, in all areas of their being, and that they will be academically and spiritually prepared to successfully navigate the challenges and wonders of tomorrow’s horizons.

On a more personal note, I'm an avid road cyclist and keen runner and find it very difficult to ignore a rugby ball if I see one!

My role of Assistant Principal for School Improvement is to support the brilliant work across the through school, working with students and leaders. I seek new ways to reinvigorate the classroom and currently focus on how oracy and feedback from student-led enquiries can improve outcomes for learners.

I gained my undergraduate degree in History and Politics from the University of Warwick. During my time there, I found a passion for the classroom as I was fortunate enough to be a part of Warwick in Africa, where I supported developing teachers in an all-through school in Morogoro, Tanzania. I completed my PGCE in History through Sheffield Hallam University, as part of the Teach First programme, and developed my practice in a school in Bradford. Soon after, I completed my MA in Educational Leadership through the University of Manchester and took on department and faculty-wide leadership roles focusing on attainment and progress for a wide range of subjects. Prior to joining GEMS FirstPoint in 2023, I was an all-through leader for Character and the Quality of Education in Halifax, West Yorkshire, and had been a leader at the school for six years. Here I focused on developing exceptional personal development opportunities, as well as an excellent academic provision.

At FirstPoint, all staff and leaders are committed to providing your children with an exceptional education and school experience. My current role enables me to work more closely with leaders and teachers across the school to continue to build on our brilliant success. Students are at the heart of our school, and it’s a pleasure to see my daughter thrive here as part of our amazing Primary School.

Born and raised in the United Arab Emirates, I attended school in Dubai. I graduated from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) from Calicut in India with a degree in Civil Engineering. I then went on to secure a variety of roles within the Engineering and Construction industry across a range of sectors. These experiences have afforded me extensive skills in the fields of health and safety, site management, building regulations and project management.

I have always been committed to ensuring high levels of compliance and site safety and have overseen projects across the UAE for large multi-national organizations such as EMAAR, DAMAC and Chalhoub. As Manager of School Operations (MSO) at GEMS FirstPoint School, I bring a wealth of experience, enthusiasm, and passion to ensure the highest standards of site safety and management. The students at our school deserve to be in the best environment, as this has been proven to impact positively on students’ wellbeing, attainment, achievement and enjoyment of school.

A part of the Executive Leadership Team, I relish the opportunity to lead my team in delivering on school improvement priorities and ensuring GEMS FirstPoint School remains a safe, happy and compliant environment where children flourish, grow and are well prepared for future life.