Why Aldar Academies?

Mr Pugh has been working in education for nearly twenty years. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in education, is a Level 1 Penta trained school inspector and is currently completing his National Professional Qualification for Headship. He has vast education and leadership experience internationally and in the UK. Having been in educational senior leadership for 9 years, he has strategically supported schools graded as outstanding, as well as working in leadership teams tasked with taking schools out of special measures, to become good schools.

Mr Pugh takes great pride in welcoming you to Al Ain British Academy as Principal of the school. He joined Al Ain British Academy on the school’s Senior Leadership team in 2019, bringing proven educational and assessment strategies to the school and building a strategic team of middle leaders to ensure each individual child gets the very best education every day. His philosophy is that each member of the AAA community should feel safe and happy coming to school, while being exposed to challenge, inquiry and excitement. Thus, our pupils will make progress every day, enjoying the learning experiences they are immersed in.

As the world begins to return to normal after the pandemic, the world of education has a wealth of opportunities available to children. Mr. Pugh believes this is a time to inspire children and allow them to investigate a wealth of learning beyond the classroom, developing their love for sports, arts, drama as well as collaborating with those similar and different from ourselves, as we look to develop tolerant, visionary leaders of the future for the U.A.E and globally.

Neal has more than twenty years of experience working in international schools, with sixteen years in senior leadership positions across Europe and Asia. He has extensive experience in strategic planning, curricular planning and program development, accreditation and compliance systems, budgeting and financial management, risk management planning, and crisis management.

Over the course of his career, Neal has worked to develop opportunities for students that strengthen and enrich learning. Neal has developed service-learning programs, STEAM programs, mother tongue-based language programs, learning support systems, personalized learning systems.

Neal holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University, and a School Management and Leadership Certificate from Harvard University. He is a certified International Baccalaureate administrator, and an active member of the Association of International School Heads, and the Council of International Schools where Neal serves as an inspector.

Doug Pettitt is Principal of Mamoura British Academy and a vastly experienced school leader, with over 30 years in education, including 15 years as a Principal across the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.

He began his career in the UK, progressing through senior leadership to Headship, before moving to the UAE where he has led multiple schools. Most recently, he was Secondary Principal at Deira International School, where he led the school to achieve and sustain ‘Outstanding’ judgements from both KHDA and BSO. He has a strong track record of driving school improvement, securing excellent academic outcomes, and building high-performing teams.

Doug believes in the importance of high academic standards alongside a truly holistic education. He is committed to ensuring every student benefits from exceptional teaching, a knowledge-rich curriculum, and a wide range of co-curricular opportunities that develop confidence, character, and ambition.

He is proud to lead Mamoura British Academy and is dedicated to delivering a world-class education where every student is supported to achieve their full potential.

I spent my formative years growing up in a beautiful coastal village in Northern Ireland before moving to England to study and graduate from Sheffield Hallam University. Prior to working at Muna, I have been privileged to hold teaching and leadership roles in schools in England, Kuwait and The UAE.

Since arriving at Muna in September 2020, I have been overseen the development of our pastoral care programme and have ensured that high quality teaching is taking place throughout the school. I have always been passionate about ensuring that school is a safe and welcoming place where children enjoy coming. It was a great honour to be appointed principal of this wonderful school in January 2024 and I will continue to work hard to ensure that every child feels valued and has the opportunity to develop as both a learner and a person.

Outside of school, I spend my free time with my wife and three children. At the weekend I enjoy watching my favourite football team play and when time permits it, playing squash and hockey. Over the coming months and years, I look forward to developing positive relations and getting to know all of the students, their families and the wider Muna British Academy community.

I am both delighted and honored to have the opportunity to lead Pearl British Academy into the next exciting stage of its journey.
Since graduating from the University of Newcastle, I have worked in senior management positions across the UAE and the UK and possess a strong background in coaching and leading successful teams. I am wholly committed to ensuring an excellent primary education that provides both breadth and rigor for every student, enabling them to reach their true potential.

With 20 years of experience in education, I firmly believe that education is one of the most valuable assets one can possess. I fully endorse Aldar Education’s vision that our purpose is to empower the next generation to shape our future. I am deeply dedicated to the children in my care and strive to ensure that our core values underpin everything we aspire to achieve as a respectful, caring, resilient, and aspirational school community.

Pearl British Academy is an extraordinary learning community, where we nurture our learners through collaboration, leadership, and creativity while working diligently to foster excellent relationships. I strongly believe in the importance of education as a partnership between home and school, and actively seek your engagement and support.

I feel privileged to have the opportunity to serve as the Founding Principal of Yasmina American School. With over 33 years of experience in the education field, all of which have been spent in Abu Dhabi, I am both excited and honored to take on this new challenge.

Previously, I had the privilege of being the Founding Principal of Horizon Private School/American Branch, where I spent over 16 years. I witnessed the school grow from just 100 students in its first year to over 1,500 students from its sixth year onwards.

I firmly believe that children are gifts from God, each with unique talents. I am convinced that all children can succeed if we create the right conditions for them to discover and nurture their abilities. Every child is born with the potential to make a meaningful contribution to the world, and it is our duty as educators to guide our students in finding their path and achieving their dreams.

My goal is to see the students of Yasmina American School grow into responsible, self-confident global citizens who believe in their ability to make a positive impact on the world around them, making it a better place for everyone.

I feel both privileged and honored to be given the opportunity of leading Yasmina British Academy into the next exciting stage of its development.

I have worked in education for the past 36 years, working for the last 11 years within the GCC. I have had the pleasure of leading some of the most successful schools within the region.

I initially trained at King Alfred’s College, Winchester, where I obtained my first degree. A firm believer in lifelong learning, my post graduate studies include an MA in Educational Management, NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headship) and I am a trained performance and leadership coach with The Work Foundation. I am a Founding Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching (FCCT) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). I read and research extensively, enabling me to keep up to date with current educational philosophy.

I am visionary, inclusive leader who has significantly transformed the quality of education and the experiences of the students in my care. My vision is a simple one; to ensure that every child in our Academy is happy, highly motivated, and fully supported to maximize their potential, both academically and in all other areas of school life.

I look forward to working with all the Academy’s community to develop Yasmina British Academy into one of the leading schools internationally.

Having been in education for the last 30 years I have witnessed many changes, however the one constant factor remains: An education is one of the most valuable things we can possess. It influences how we see the world and contribute to it.

I have been fortunate to be a part of Aldar Education for the last 13 years, and fully endorse the vision that it is our purpose to empower the next generation to shape our future.

We achieve this effective by recognising the importance of a holistic approach to education, being fully inclusive and allowing children and young adults to develop their skills in which they can realise their dreams for their future.

Taking on the role as Principal of Yas American Academy in January 2024 has allowed me to continue my passion in developing a community approach to educating our children, where all stakeholders play a part in a child’s development.