The Leadership Series 2025 with Mr Patrick Affley

It was a pleasure to connect with Mr Patrick Affley, Director of Ajman Academy, UAE. With nearly 30 years of experience in the education sector, Patrick has a proven track record of creating, developing, and managing schools from inception to excellence. 

Can you give us a sense of what life is like as an expat in Dubai/UAE?

Life as an expat educator is extremely rewarding in so many ways. It’s important to consider yourself first, before your role as an educator in the region. If you’re a “risk-taker” (someone who enjoys stepping outside your comfort zone), enjoy good weather, fantastic people, lots of outdoor activities, amazing malls, and excellent food, then Dubai is the place for you. Whether you’re single or bringing a family with you, the opportunities are endless. There are some downsides, such as traffic and the high cost of living, but there are alternatives (where there’s a Spinneys, there’s usually a Viva nearby!).
The workday often starts early, and schools here are generally of a very high calibre. The opportunities to develop your teaching skills and qualifications have become much more readily available in recent years. Additionally, there are great prospects for promotion. If you’re hard-working, willing to learn, and prepared to go “above and beyond,” schools are much more likely to recruit internally.

Tell us a little about your school, the curriculum used, and its values.

Ajman Academy is a fantastic IB school located in Ajman, just 25 minutes from Dubai (I live in Dubai and commute here every day). We follow the National Curriculum objectives and tailor the rest of our curriculum to suit international students. After the MYP, we offer iGCSEs, BTEC, and A-levels. We are an Apple Distinguished School, CIS, IB World and are accredited British Schools Overseas ( BSO) school. We use Cambridge and Pearson exam boards, and are part of the Global Schools Network and the BSME ( British Schools in the Middle East). Our students range from 3 to 18 years old, and we have fantastic facilities that allow both staff and students to grow and prosper.
Learn more at www.ajmanacademy.com.

How many years have you been in leadership? What is your leadership style?

I have been a school leader for over 20 years, having led three schools in the UK, Dubai, and Ajman. With experience, my leadership style has evolved over the years, and I currently embrace a coaching approach. One phrase I often use is creating an environment where staff are “leaders without titles,” meaning everyone in the organisation can take on a leadership role. My role is to nurture and cultivate leadership within our school, giving senior leaders the confidence to make decisions and move the school forward. I have moved away from ‘trying to do it all myself’, to empowering the professionals in the organisation to lead their areas effectively. This requires clarity, strong communication from me, and creating a “safe” environment for our staff to develop. I believe this is the best way to influence positive change and ensure our school delivers an excellent education to the children in our care.

What do you look for when hiring new teachers and/or leaders?

I look for staff who are positive, enthusiastic, willing to learn, and not afraid of making mistakes (risk-takers). They should be able to learn from their mistakes, be open and honest, and naturally willing to go “above and beyond.” It’s also essential that staff enjoy working with children!

What advice do you have for someone interviewing for an international teaching position?

Be yourself and don’t try to second guess the interviewers. We are looking for good people, who will fit in well to the organisation and will make a positive contribution to it. Do thorough research about the specific school you’re applying to, and take the initiative by visiting the country before committing. As a school leader, the worst thing for us is when a staff member leaves after only a few weeks, as it badly affects the students. By making connections before you arrive, we can be confident that you’ll be socially prepared to make the transition. If this isn’t possible, reach out via social media to teachers who work out here- everyone out here has been in your position and most will share good intel with you!

What advice would you give to new teachers moving abroad for the first time?

Embrace the change. Things won’t be the same as what you’re used to in your home country, but try to view these differences as interesting rather than problematic. There are often “red tape” issues in foreign countries—such as rentals, visas, licenses, attestations, etc. Your school will guide you through these processes, but it’s wise to do your own research and be prepared for some initial costs. Try not to isolate yourself and get out there and join sports clubs/ social clubs etc.

Have you come across any new trends in the education sector that have emerged over the last few years?

The UAE has seen significant population growth. Many communities that were established 5–10 years ago are now well-established, and there are many more community schools linked to these areas, which is a great development.
There has also been a readjustment in schools since the COVID-19 pandemic, with a renewed emphasis on speaking, listening, and group work to ensure students develop the essential interpersonal skills they were deprived of during online learning and wearing masks.

There is a lot more collaboration and sharing amongst schools now, compared with 10 years ago, which leads to good connections, shared learnings and stronger links with each other.

Where do you see the future of education headed 5–10 years from now? Will there be a greater emphasis on technology, curriculum, etc.?

Technology and AI will continue to be integrated into classroom teaching. When the internet was first introduced in schools, there was a lot of distrust and uncertainty. Over time, however, curricula will adapt, focusing more on skills and interpretation, as information that once took hours to generate can now be accessed in seconds.
Unfortunately, the outdated examination system persists and is still considered the best way to formalise qualifications. However, I believe that initial competency testing, which some colleges and companies are using, may become a more prominent metric for employers in the future. We’ll have to see how things evolve….

Any personal motto or philosophy that you live by?

I have a few:

• “Be kind to yourself and others.”
• “Be a leader without a title”—not just at work, but in life in general.
• “Your day is your life in miniature.”
  By planning your days with “micro-wins,” you can live a fulfilled life, both at work and at home