10 – 12 November 2026
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Dubai World Trade Centre Sheikh Saeed Halls 1, 2 & 3
Patricia Coffey
Head of Science - JESS (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
I am Head of Science at Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS), one of the top 100 private schools in the world, as recognised by the Spear’s Schools Index. I have been working in education for 16 years and hold an honours degree in Chemistry, an honours degree in Science Education, and a Master’s in Teaching and Learning from the University of Bath. In 2017, I was honoured to receive the Middle East Science Teacher of the Year award at the Education Journal Middle East Awards. I’ve presented at leading education conferences including EduTech Middle East, LearnLiveUAE, the JESS Digital Innovation Summit, and BETT Abu Dhabi, where I represented our school as part of Microsoft in Education. For the past 10 years, I’ve led JESS’s whole-school Making it Stick programme, working with students, parents, and staff to embed effective, research-informed revision strategies into teaching and learning. I’m passionate about improving outcomes through evidence-based practice, leading high-performing teams, and supporting the professional growth of others. I enjoy sharing insights from both the classroom and leadership, and I’m always keen to collaborate through meaningful educational dialogue.
Speaker Sessions
Workshop Space
1627
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Leading from the Middle: How Systems and Strategy Drive Departmental Success
Session Summary:
In the ever-evolving world of education, true leadership doesn’t always come from the top. As Head of Science at JESS, I’ve led a department of 16 teachers and 5 technicians through growth, challenge, and transformation, from staffing turbulence to curriculum reform, while consistently delivering some of the strongest academic outcomes across the school at both GCSE and IB levels.
This talk explores how sustainable excellence can be achieved through clear systems, purposeful delegation, and an unshakeable focus on consistency. Attendees will gain practical insights into how I structured my department to thrive regardless of staffing changes, how we embedded retrieval practice from Years 7 to 13, and how we leveraged tools like departmental OneNotes, lead roles, and adaptive teaching to deliver outstanding outcomes across Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
Whether you’re a middle leader looking to step up, or a senior leader seeking to support subject leads more effectively, this session will offer a roadmap to running a department that doesn't just survive but excels.
Speakers:
Patricia Coffey
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Head of Science - JESS (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Categories:
Leadership and Professional Development
// GESS EDUCATION INSIGHTS
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