Welcome Messages
Message from the Deputy CEO
Welcome to the TES family. Since 1980, when Gulf English School (GES) was incorporated, year after year, I see GES is growing beyond expectations, not just in breadth but also in depth. The key to our continued success is adherence to our core values which have remained intact since the beginning. We are excited to celebrate our 45th year Anniversary in 2025 and we will continue our successful journey for more and more years to come.
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We are passionate about education and are extremely committed to supporting and actively promoting all of the pillars of Kuwait’s National Vision through the diversity of our businesses. We promote a sense of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) throughout all of our establishments.
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GES School is vibrant and welcoming international school providing a first-class education that will enable all of our pupils to thrive in today’s dynamic global environment. GES lies at the heart of its local community and we appreciate the ongoing role we play in community integration and development.
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Our school is dedicated to improving the educational attainment and life chances of all our pupils regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion or ability. Our core purpose is to ensure that every pupil gains as much from the time spent at a GES as they can. This is based on our fundamental belief that all learners can, need and want to achieve.
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While we are academically rigorous, we believe success at school is much more than mastery of the year’s academic work. We are committed to ensuring that all of our pupils develop to their full potential as young people.
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I thank my dedicated staff, our business partners and all our clients for achieving this milestone. GES stands proud and tall because of you. With your continued support, trust and loyalty, there can only be fruitful days ahead.
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We wish you a long and successful association with TES family and look forward to your valuable contribution towards fulfillment of the organizations Vision and Mission.
Message from the School Director
Mr Edward Cooper
It is my utmost privilege to welcome you to Gulf English School (GES), Kuwait, offering a high-quality British-based education from Kindergarten to Year 13 since 1980.
Our priority at GES, as per our Vision and Mission, is to develop confident and caring learners who are ready to face the challenges of the future. Challenges, of course, that we may not yet be aware of or fully aware of due to the pace of change in the world. Therefore, we recognise that it is essential to develop in our pupils not only strong curriculum knowledge, but the values and learning traits that will support them, and their communities, beyond school. We have the highest aspirations for our pupils in all regards. It is no longer enough to academically successful; our graduates should embody our school’s values and be highly adaptable lifelong learners.
Therefore, as a school, we believe it is imperative that we continually discuss and reflect upon the learning that we consider most relevant for our pupils, and that we adapt and update these ‘learning objectives’. We also believe that it is essential that we involve our pupils in this process, improving their level of agency in the process. As the most important learners in the school, our pupils’ engagement through active learning, choice, and feedback is essential.
GES was founded more than 45 years ago, and soon after I moved to the Gulf region in September 2001, I became aware of our school as one of the most established and reputable schools in the region. It is therefore my pleasure to become part of the school community 24 years later. It is my mission to support the school in becoming the best school in Kuwait and one of the best in the region.
GES has all the ingredients of a great school: a highly committed staff whose aim it is to continually improve the quality of educational provision; motivated and respectful pupils; and very supportive parents and guardians. Coming from a diverse range of backgrounds, and learning within our host country’s rich culture blended with British values, makes GES a truly international school.
At GES we understand that first and foremost our pupils must enjoy coming to school, and likewise our staff. Together, passionate educators and learners will thrive. At GES we also recognise that our pupils teach the staff and that our teachers are learners. Our staff support our pupils best when they learn from them – about their lives, experiences and talents – and when they remain curious and committed to their own development. At GES we are a community of learners. We recognise that our provision must continually evolve in order to remain relevant to our pupils as they grow through the school.
We all appreciate that the world of work and how we live will be radically different in the near future due to rapidly developing technologies, and that in addition to developing a breadth of knowledge, our pupils need to develop the ability to adapt, apply skills to new contexts, decipher fact from fiction, be deeply empathic and highly effective communicators. Our aim is for our curriculum and the day-to-day climate at our school to support this endeavour.
We are delighted that you have either chosen your child’s formal education with us or you are in the process of considering our provision. I hope that our new website will provide you with all of the information you need; however, if you are able to visit us in person, then it would be a pleasure to help introduce you to our school.
With best wishes,
Mr Edward Cooper
School Director​​​​
Message from the School Academic Director
Mr Israr Shah
I am delighted and honoured to have been appointed as the new School Academic Director at Gulf English School, and I am very excited to get to know all our pupils, parents, carers and staff.
I hold a degree from the University of Manchester, and I have been a teacher, senior leader across a range of settings in the United Kingdom including Headteacher in an international school in the Kingdom of Bahrain.I am acutely aware of the responsibility that my staff and I have in ensuring that the highest standard of teaching and learning is achieved so that our pupils leave GES with the best possible outcomes and start in life.
I believe in the importance of evidence based education and at GES we are currently implementing the Rosenshine principles in our Primary maths curriculum and at secondary Carol Dweck's Growth mindset and the Neuroscience of learning because we believe at GES every child can achieve.
I will ensure that every child in our school has a breadth of opportunities to provide them with the knowledge and experiences to achieve their very best in life in school and beyond.
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As key educators in your child’s life, I feel that it is important that you have a voice and that, as a school, we are approachable and allocate time to listen to your concerns, worries or thoughts about the school. Soon I will be inviting parents in for an informal coffee morning. This will be an opportunity to meet other parents/carers, and chat with me.
I am committed to the success of the school and will strive to ensure all pupils receive the outstanding education they deserve. We have made some excellent appointments this year at senior leadership level as well as teaching staff. I am determined that the school will build on its excellent reputation and continue to flourish and maintain its position at the heart of our community.
Yours faithfully
Mr Israr Shah
School Academic Director​​​​
Our Vision & Mission Statement
We strive to provide the best education within an Arabic and international environment in a safe and happy community where highly qualified staff teach students how to be confident, caring and ready for future challenges.
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The school's goal in striving for excellence is inspired through the culture of independent and lifelong learning in acquiring the necessary knowledge and competencies for working in a highly competitive technological society. To this end, students are stimulated and challenged to thinking outside the box in a school that promotes high standards of behaviour, excellent communication, team work, good manners and honesty.
Embracing change, we will enhance the achievement of our young people, creating a generation intent on making a difference to the quality of their lives and to the lives of others.
Our Values
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Leadership​​​​
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Serving Humanity
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Excellence
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Respect
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Kindness
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Determination
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Create Challenges
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Encourage & Inspire Minds
Senior Leadership Team
Mr Edward Cooper
School Director
Mr Israr Shah
School Academic Director
Ms Stacey Myers
Head of Primary
Ms Layla Smyth
Deputy Head of Key Stages 2
Mr Hamaad Shah
Deputy Head of Secondary - Academic
Mr Paul Luijting
Deputy Head of Secondary - Pastoral
Ms Azmat Ahmed
Deputy Head of Teaching and Learning
Ms Stacey Myers
Welcome to the Gulf English School’s Primary Department, a vibrant learning community where every child, staff member and parent is valued and welcomed.
As the Head Teacher, I am committed to creating a nurturing atmosphere where children thrive and develop the skills to become active, caring, productive and responsible members of society. We foster a love for learning and encourage lively and inquisitive minds that will last a lifetime.
Head of Primary
At our school, each child is encouraged to reach their full potential, recognising that they are unique individuals with valuable contributions to make. We provide an exciting, broad and challenging learning experience that sparks their curiosity and supports their growth.
Our dedicated and experienced staff members are committed to providing an enjoyable learning environment within a safe and stable setting. They work tirelessly to inspire and support the students throughout their educational journey.
We believe in the importance of fostering strong partnerships between the school and parents. We actively promote confidence and engagement, recognising the vital role parents play in their children's learning. Together, we work towards the shared goal of supporting and nurturing the development of each child.
At Gulf English School, we are dedicated to providing a high-quality education that empowers our students to become lifelong learners and responsible global citizens. We invite you to join our community and be part of the exciting journey of learning and growth at our school.
Ms Azmat Ahmed
It is an absolute honour to serve as Deputy Head in charge of Teaching and Learning at GES. I am deeply passionate about creating an environment where both students and teachers can truly thrive and flourish. My commitment is to ensure that evidence-based practices guide everything we do, fostering a culture of growth, excellence, and innovation. Together, we are not just shaping students’ futures; we are nurturing the leaders of tomorrow, and I am thrilled to be part of this journey.
Deputy Head of Teaching and Learning
Mr Paul Luijting
Deputy Head of Secondary - Pastoral
My name is Mr Paul Luijting and as many of you know I'm from the Netherlands. I am currently assisting Mr John as Deputy Head with a focus on Pastoral in addition to my position as Business Teacher.
After my education in mechanical engineering and business management, I started my own company and that is how I came into contact with Kuwait. After obtaining the necessary papers, I have chosen to enthuse the youth, our future, for entrepreneurship as a Business Teacher. Making progress together as a Team gives me satisfaction.
I like to contribute to a safe and trusted learning environment, where the students are central and we all take that extra step every day to achieve our goals together as a Team. One Team, One Task. #WeAreGES
Having qualified with a BSc (Hons) Mathematics and then a PGCE, I ventured out to Kuwait in 2016 as a Mathematics Teacher. I have been at Gulf English School since 2019; first as Head of Mathematics, and now as the Deputy Head of Secondary to Mr McGrath - tasked with developing academia at GES.
Mr Hamaad Shah
Deputy Head of Secondary - Academic
Hello, my name is Ms Layla Smyth. I am one of the Deputy Heads of Primary and the Head of Key Stage 2 which consists of Year 3, 4, 5 and 6.
After completing my BA in Development Studies at Middlesex University in North London, I started my PGCE in Primary Education at Nottingham Trent University in 2014 and qualified as a Primary school teacher. I worked in Nottingham city in several schools as a class teacher. I have gained experience teaching in Year 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Ms Layla Smyth
Deputy Head of KS2
I arrived in Kuwait in 2019 and started working in GES. I was appointed Year Leader in 2020 where I was able to support students, teachers and parents. In 2021, I was appointed Deputy Headteacher and Head of Key Stage 2. In Key Stage 2, the teaching staff and I have high standards of teaching and learning. We ensure the British National Curriculum is fully covered in all subjects. Making sure the students are ready to move into Secondary School with a wealth of knowledge, confidence and resilience.
Ms Ruhi Prasher
Deputy Head of EYFS & Key stage 1, Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
My name is Ms Ruhi Prashar and I am the Deputy Head of EYFS and KS1. I have worked at GES for 10 years and have enjoyed every minute.
Our students are joyful, respectful and an absolute pleasure to be around. While they are with us in the EYFS and KS1 department, they receive a well rounded and balanced education that gives them the skills and academic ability to move on to KS2.
Here in the EYFS and KS1 department, we are happy to boast a fantastic staff of professional and well experienced educators. Our teachers go above and beyond for the children in their class and they cater to the needs of every single child. The result is that our students leave our department feeling happy and with a love of school and learning. They leave us with a great sense of pride and security within their own abilities and are able to continue their school journey with confidence.