Staff | About Us | Raffles World Academy | Dubai, U.A.E

Alison Dawson began her teaching career in England before moving to Dubai, where she has developed over two decades of experience in international education. Throughout her career, she has held a range of senior leadership positions, playing a key role in strengthening teaching and learning, curriculum development and student outcomes, while building strong partnerships with students, parents, and the wider community. 

Alison's experience spans Early Years through to Grade 12, with expertise in literacy, innovation, inclusion, and school improvement. She has extensive experience within both British and International Baccalaureate educational settings. In addition to her school leadership roles, Alison is a certified school inspector and experienced educational consultant, supporting program development, school governance and strategy. 

As Head of Primary at Raffles World Academy, Alison is committed to fostering a nurturing, inclusive, and high-performing learning environment where every child is known, valued, and challenged to achieve their full potential. She works closely with students, staff, and families to ensure excellence in teaching and learning, while promoting innovation, wellbeing, and a strong sense of belonging across the Primary School.

As the Deputy Head of Lower Primary and PYP Coordinator, Yolanda is responsible for ensuring a personalised and rigorous curriculum is delivered to all students using the IB Primary Years Programme framework as the lens for all academic decisions. Yolanda works closely with all teachers, collaboratively planning lessons and units of inquiry to produce innovative learning experiences for students. 

Yolanda has worked in international education for 23 years and holds a Bachelor's degree in Education, specialising in early childhood development and foundation phase, as well as the NPQ in Senior Leadership. She spent six years at RWA as a homeroom teacher and two years as a middle leader; this academic year will be her eighth as part of the RWA Primary Leadership Team. 

Shaun Scanlon is Deputy Head of Academics and Head of Assessment. Originally from Ireland, Shaun spent 12 years teaching in Ireland before relocating to Dubai. Over the past five years, he has gained extensive experience in international education and the IB Primary Years Programme. 

Shaun holds a Bachelor of Education and completed a Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Management at the National University of Ireland in 2020. He has served as the Mathematics Lead for the past two years, supporting the continued development of teaching and learning across the Primary School. 

He believes that strong relationships, effective assessment, and high-quality teaching are at the heart of helping every child succeed, a belief that extends beyond the classroom; Shaun is currently studying for a postgraduate qualification in Sports Nutrition and is passionate about encouraging children to become curious, confident, lifelong learners. 

As the Deputy Head of Primary - Pastoral and Administration, Emily collaborates with a diverse team, including counsellors, the learning support department, and all primary teachers, to ensure that RWA offers a welcoming, caring, and safe environment where all students can thrive. She promotes strong and positive relationships among students, teachers, and parents by facilitating collaboration within and across the Primary School. 

Emily's journey with RWA spans 13 remarkable years, including the last six as a valued member of the Primary Leadership Team. Prior to her current role, she taught Physical Education and served as Head of Department. Her true passion lies in the pastoral field, where she is dedicated to supporting student engagement with learning. 

Tessa McGee, Head of Inclusion 

Tessa has worked in education for over 16 years and has gained valuable international experience in South Africa, South Korea and Dubai. Working across different countries and educational settings has strengthened her commitment to ensuring that every child feels supported, included and able to succeed. 

Tessa holds an Educational Honours Degree in Inclusive Education and is passionate about helping students overcome barriers to learning. As Head of Inclusion in the Primary School, she works closely with students, families, teachers, and external professionals to ensure that each child receives the support they need to thrive both academically and personally. 

Tessa believes that inclusion is about creating a genuine sense of belonging, where every student feels valued and empowered to participate fully in school life. Through collaboration, strong relationships, and a student-centred approach, she is committed to helping all learners develop confidence, independence, and a love of learning. 

Pam Parasram hails from Durban, South Africa and moved to Dubai in 1996. She has over twenty two years of IB teaching experience across both the Middle and Diploma programmes across two leading IB schools in Dubai. She has rich multicultural experience working with students and parents across almost 86 different nationalities. Her appointments include: Head of English where she led the department to an Outstanding KHDA rating; Diploma Coordinator for 7 years and Deputy Head - Academics for three years at Dubai International Academy. Her key roles include raising student attainment and preparing staff and students for inspections and evaluation visits.

She has been a dedicated member of the Raffles World Academy community for the past two years, now serving as the Head of Secondary School. Her commitment to raising the quality of teaching and learning, continuously enhancing the curriculum, and closely monitoring the work of middle leaders and their teams has been instrumental in driving student success. Under her leadership, the secondary school is dedicated to ensuring that each student progresses from their starting point, maximising their potential and achieving outstanding outcomes.

Maria Sayyed, the IBCP/BTEC Coordinator and Head of the Business department at Raffles World Academy, is a seasoned educator with a wealth of experience specialising in Business and Economics.

Armed with a Master's in Economics from Mumbai University and an iPgCPP from Liverpool Hope University, UK, Maria's academic journey reflects her dedication to knowledge and expertise. She is also an IB examiner for Economics, Global Head of IB Business content creation, Country Head for the World Economics Cup, and an accomplished author in Business and Economics.

Maria's passion lies in inspiring students to explore diverse fields and excel professionally. Her vision is to elevate the IBCP to new heights, instilling curiosity and global perspectives among students and empowering them to become trailblazers in their respective domains. Under her leadership, the IBCP at Raffles World Academy combines academic rigour with practical experience, offering students a comprehensive education that prepares them for the complexities of the modern business world. Maria works closely with her team to deliver a challenging and engaging curriculum. She ensures that the highest standards and practices of the IBCP and BTEC programmes are implemented, fostering an environment where students can thrive. With Maria at the helm, the students at Raffles are bound to flourish and make a significant impact in the world.

Ruth graduated from the University of Hull with an Honours degree in History and more recently with an MA in Politics. Ruth began teaching in 2006, first in England and then internationally. Ruth has been involved in Pastoral leadership since finishing her NQT year and has held various responsibilities in schools from Head of Year/Key Stage to Anti-Bullying Coordinator. Ruth has a passion for both History and Politics and loves discussing these with the students encouraging them to think critically and engage with the world around them.

Ruth believes the role of a Pastoral lead is to ensure that all students at RWA fulfil their potential and that all roadblocks or challenges can be overcome. She will work to ensure that all students are healthy, happy and achieving at RWA.