Meet the team

Welcome to Al Bateen Academy. My name is Simon Murphy, and I am delighted to be the Primary Principal of such a vibrant and family orientated learning community.
Initially, from the UK, I have significant school leadership experience both at home and within the UAE. Most recently, this has included leading a whole school change project alongside Harvard University’s Project Zero department.
Al Bateen is a nurturing environment for our students, where they enjoy their learning and feel comfortable. Nothing gives me more satisfaction than seeing our students arrive at school, bright-eyed, enthused and eager to learn. My passion for education is to put the choices & decisions for learning into the hands of our students and empowering them to inquire and make choices on what interests them. As a result of this, I am a firm advocate for the world-leading International Baccalaureate PYP curriculum that we offer our students. Through its blended approach to learning and critical learner profile attributes, we will inspire students to become risk-takers who are open-minded, principled and reflective.

Al Bateen Academy is located at the heart of Abu Dhabi city and is one of the most spectacular looking schools in the world. The school has state of the art, modern facilities to support holistic education and unique learning experiences. I have been in International education for 18 years with extensive leadership experience in British and International schools. As the Secondary Principal, I am responsible for the overall educational provision for students from years seven to thirteen, supported by a highly experienced and dedicated academic and pastoral team, along with a fantastic group of outstanding and innovative teachers.

Our goal is to inspire all children to have a passion and love of learning. The student body is represented by over sixty different nationalities, making the school a vibrant and exciting International school where respect and collaboration are promoted on a daily basis.
The secondary curriculum at Al Bateen academy includes an adapted English National curriculum embedded with opportunities to promote International mindedness, for students in years, seven to nine, students in the Middle school follow the I/GCSE curriculum and in the Senior school study the IB Diploma. The curriculum pathway provides a rigorous learning journey and enables students to achieve globally-recognised qualifications.

The curriculum encompasses all aspects of learning organised by the school, including the wide range of opportunities outside the classroom including school trips, the pastoral provision, after school clubs, student leadership opportunities, productions and sports teams to name just a few. We provide as many opportunities for students to participate in events and learning experiences that enable them to fulfil their potential and become happy, successful, compassionate global citizens.

The students at Al Bateen Academy have been highly successful academically, with students exceeding national and international standards at both IGCSE and IB Diploma over the past five years with many of our graduate students attending the best universities around the world. Education is far more than teaching children about curriculum content. It is developing young minds and equipping them with learning skills that will enable them to become future leaders who will have a positive impact on the world.

It is my pleasure to be a part of a Leadership Team that strives for excellence in every strand of the school life. My role as the Operations & Services Manager is to ensure those standards are applied in all non-educational aspects of the Academy.
I bring with me over 25 years experience in Management, Administration, Procurement, HR and Customer Service across a variety of industries with the last five years focusing on Educational Environments & School Improvements.
I very much look forward to working with a team whose ultimate goal is the safety and well-being of our students.

Having taught for over 20 years in a variety of schools in the UK, Botswana, China and the Gulf region, I have no hesitation in describing Al Bateen Academy as a very special place. A vibrant, innovative and inclusive school community, based upon high expectations and mutual support, care and respect.
As the Assistant Principal (Pastoral), my role is focused upon developing and monitoring effective pastoral systems; student well-being, behaviour, attendance and student personal development. I have a strong commitment to student-centred approaches, student leadership and student voice, which I am researching as part of my doctoral studies. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work at Al Bateen Academy over the last eight years as we continue to nurture and equip our students to become confident, resilient, internationally-minded citizens of the future.

I completed my PGCE in Geography at Keele University. The first 8 years of my teaching career were in Mansfield, England, specialising in delivering History and Geography at KS3,4 and 5, while also taking a keen interest in pastoral care as Head of Year 9.
I joined Al Bateen Academy in the summer of 2014 as Head of Year 8, before becoming Head of Year 7 and Transition Coordinator. In 2017 I took on a role in the schools extended leadership team before being appointed Head of Lower School. I have completed Penta school inspection training and in April 2019, I was appointed as Assistant Principal with responsibility for Teaching, Learning and CPD. I currently line manage the MOE subjects at Al Bateen Academy as well as ICT and teaching staff in leadership roles.
My passions within school are broad, ranging from teaching and learning through to pastoral care. In my current role I am looking to develop evidence-based teaching and learning strategies which support students to become highly successful learners in an ever-changing world.