Meet the team

Mrs Jones has been working in education since 2013 where she graduated with a first-class degree in Primary and Secondary Education with Spanish. Throughout her teaching career, Mrs Jones has been very fortunate to be able to teach in various contexts (in both Primary and Secondary schools in the UK and in the UAE) and she has recently completed her National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership.

Mrs Jones has worked at Al Ain British Academy for a number of years as a teacher, middle leader, and as a senior leader; however, she is very excited to embark on the role of Head of Primary.

Mrs Jones is committed to ensuring that Al Ain British Academy continues to provide a supportive and caring environment where every student is recognised as an individual. At Al Ain British Academy, we aim to ensure that students flourish both academically and personally, working in partnership with parents to develop our students into well-rounded members of our community – providing the foundation of learning which will enable students to achieve anything and everything they set their minds to.

Mrs Ralph qualified with a Joint Honours degree in English and Geography from the National University of Ireland, Galway in 2011. She went on to complete her Postgraduate Diploma in Education with Honours at Hibernia College, Dublin in 2013. After achieving her Qualified Teacher Status in Ireland, she was eager to broaden her horizons and build international experience, leading her to the UAE, where she has worked in education since 2014. In 2023, Mrs Ralph completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH), further strengthening her leadership credentials.

A passionate and experienced teacher of Geography, Mrs Ralph has guided students to exceptional success, including achieving accolades such as Highest in the World and Highest in the UAE. Alongside her academic expertise, she brings over nine years of dedicated pastoral leadership experience and has played a pivotal role in supporting student wellbeing, personal development, and academic achievement. For the past five years, she has also led the school’s university and careers guidance provision, supporting students in gaining places at top institutions around the world.

Mrs Ralph is deeply committed to ensuring that every student receives the individual support they need to flourish. She is proud to lead the Secondary School at Al Ain British Academy, where she aims to foster a nurturing and aspirational environment in which every student can thrive and fulfil their potential.

Miss Ellis joined AABA Primary School in 2018, initially leading KS1 literacy as well as year groups in both Year 1 and Year 2. As a dedicated member of the Senior Leadership Team, she now plays a key role in leading teaching and learning across the school. With a strong focus on high-quality classroom practice, she works closely with staff to ensure every child is supported, challenged, and inspired. Miss Ellis values strong partnerships with families and actively promotes parental engagement as a vital part of each child’s educational journey. She is currently pursuing the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) to further strengthen her leadership and impact across the school community.

Mr Drinkwater graduated with a BA (Hons) degree in Primary Teaching in 2013 from the University of Wales. Before moving to the UAE, he taught for 3 years in South Wales and has currently been working at Al Ain British Academy for 10 years.

Mr Drinkwater has taught in various KS2 year groups, held multiple subject lead roles, including core and non-core, as well as being a Head of Year for the previous 6 years. In his time at AABA, he has completed the National professional Qualification for Middle and Senior Leadership, which he has been able to apply to his leadership roles.

Last academic year, Mr Drinkwater took on the role of Assistant Principal for Data and Assessment and is now thilled to be taking this role, along with Pastoral Lead in his new position as Deputy Head of Primary. Mr Drinkwater believes that all children should be given a chance to thrive and succeed in every lesson they undertake. He understands the value in treating all children equally, with fairness and respect and has the desire to ensure that children leave AABA with values, morals and the characteristics to ensure they are well-rounded, esteemed members of the community.

Mr Nasir joined Al Ain British Academy as Head of Mathematics, bringing with him a strong track record of leadership and impact. Prior to his move to the UAE, he worked in a number of schools across Oxford, where he rapidly progressed into leadership roles. His previous positions include Deputy Head of Maths and Lead Practitioner, alongside his work as a facilitator for the National Professional Qualifications in Leading Teaching (NPQLT) and Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD).

A passionate advocate for high-quality teaching, Mr Nasir is an accredited Secondary Mastery Specialist and an NCETM Professional Development Lead. He has supported over ten schools in strengthening their teaching practice and curriculum design, contributing to improved outcomes for both students and staff. Since joining Al Ain British Academy, he has led the Mathematics department with energy and purpose, fostering a culture of high expectations, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Mr Nasir’s educational philosophy centres on the belief that outstanding teaching and learning are the foundation of school success. He understands the transformative impact of effective classroom practice and is particularly enthusiastic about leading the continued development of teaching and learning across the secondary school. Mr Nasir will be completing his NPQH in the coming academic year and remains deeply committed to ensuring that every student is supported, challenged and inspired to achieve their full potential.